Environmental aspects & risks identification tool

An environmental aspect, in the context of ISO 14001, refers to an element of an organisation’s activities, products, or services that can interact with the environment. These aspects can have a positive or negative impact on the environment, depending on how they are managed and controlled.

An environmental risk, in the context of ISO 14001, refers to the effect or consequence that an organisation’s activities, products or services have on the environment (risks). Environmental risks in ISO 14001, different to aspects, represent the outcome of how an aspect affects the environment, whether positively, negatively or neutrally.

Identifying environmental aspects and impacts is a critical step in ISO 14001 because it provides the necessary foundation for organisations to systematically manage their environmental responsibilities, improve environmental performance, ensure legal compliance, and meet stakeholder expectations. It enables organizations to proactively address environmental challenges and opportunities, contributing to both environmental sustainability and the organization’s long-term success.

ISO 14001 is an internationally recognised standard for Environmental Management Systems (EMS). It provides a framework and set of requirements that organisations can follow to establish, implement, maintain, and continually improve an effective EMS. ISO 14001 is part of the ISO 14000 family of standards, which focuses on various aspects of environmental management and sustainability.