ISO 14006:2020 pdf download – Environmental management systems – Guidelines for incorporating ecodesign
4.1 Understanding the organization and its context
ISO 14001 requires the organization to determine external and internal issues that are relevant to its purpose and that affect its ability to achieve the intended outcomes of its EMS (see ISO 14001:2015, 4.1). The design and development of an organization’s products is affected by a range of external issues (e.g. legislation, competition, market trends) and internal issues (e.g. cost, capabilities, resources). External and internal product-related environmental issues can be different along a supply chain. For example, even if an organization uses a component with few significant environmental aspects from a supplier, there could be significant environmental aspects associated with the component’s raw material origins. By substituting such a material, the organization can cause other environmental aspects that could be significant. It is therefore important to understand the organization, its context, value chain and potential trade- offs when substituting a material. To support the above, even though ISO 14001 does not require it in this context, life cycle thinking provides an understanding of the life cycle of a product and is valuable in determining external and internal product-related environmental issues.
4.2 Understanding the needs and expectations of interested parties
ISO 14001 requires the organization to determine (see ISO 14001:2015, 4.2):
a) the interested parties that are relevant to the EMS;
b) the relevant needs and expectations (i.e. requirements) of these interested parties;
c) which of these needs and expectations become its legal and other requirements.
Interested parties can have a range of existing and future concerns regarding product-related environmental issues throughout a life cycle. Consideration should be given to both internal (e.g. employees, top management, owners) and external interested parties (e.g. customers, regulators, NGOs, insurance and financial institutions). Relevant interested parties and their requirements can be different across the different stages in the life cycle. For guidance, reference can be made to ISO 14004:2016, 4.2. Those who manage the EMS should understand the product-related environmental issues and related requirements of the organization. Product-related environmental issues and requirements relevant to the organization, but outside of the scope of the EMS, should be managed within design and development. Legal and other requirements can be different across the different stages in the life cycle of a product. The organization’s sphere of influence should be considered when determining which of these requirements the organization needs to comply with. When addressing the issues identified according to 4.1 and deciding on which of the interested parties’ needs and expectations should be legal and other requirements according to 4.2, the organization should recognize that trade-offs will exist between product-related environmental issues and interested parties’ needs and expectations. As a consequence, the organization should recognize that there will be trade-offs in ecodesign and these should be resolved within in design and development, see 6.1 and 8.1.
When establishing the scope of an EMS related to ecodesign, an organization should consider its product-related environmental aspects, sphere of influence, and defined responsibilities within design and development. It is essential to include design and development within the scope of an EMS if it is related to ecodesign, since it has major influence on the product’s environmental performance. The scope applies to every stage in the life cycle of a product. Although any stage and environmental aspect may be excluded according to an inability to influence or control, organizations are encouraged to consider opportunities associated with expanding their sphere of influence to reduce any adverse environmental impacts of their products.