In the latest amendment to the ISO 9001:2015 standards, set to take effect in 2024, significant updates have been made to underscore the importance of addressing climate change within quality management systems. This adjustment reflects a growing global recognition of the need for environmental sustainability to be a core consideration in organizational operations and strategy.
The Specific Change
The amendment brings a focused change to two key sections of the ISO 9001:2015 standards:
1. Section 4.1 - Understanding the Organization and Its Context:
The specific change introduced by ISO 9001:2015/Amd 1:2024 is the addition of the following sentence at the end of the subclause:
- "The organization shall determine whether climate change is a relevant issue."
This adjustment mandates organizations to actively consider the implications of climate change on their operations, ensuring that their quality management systems are resilient and adaptive to environmental challenges.
2. Section 4.2 - Understanding the Needs and Expectations of Interested Parties:
A new note has been added at the end of this subclause, emphasizing the relevance of climate change to stakeholder expectations:
- "NOTE: Relevant interested parties can have requirements related to climate change."
This note highlights the necessity for organizations to be aware of and responsive to any climate change-related requirements or expectations from their stakeholders, further integrating environmental considerations into the quality management process.
Implications for Organizations
The explicit inclusion of climate change considerations in the ISO 9001:2015 standards encourages organizations to:
- Assess the impact of climate change on their operations and strategic objectives.
- Engage with interested parties to understand and address any climate change-related requirements.
- Embed sustainability and environmental responsibility into their quality management systems.
Moving Forward
The amendment, effective from February 2024, represents a significant step forward in aligning quality management practices with environmental sustainability goals. It reflects an understanding that quality management is not just about internal processes and customer satisfaction but also about how organizations interact with and impact the broader environmental context.
Organizations certified under ISO 9001:2015 are now tasked with revisiting their management systems to ensure that climate change considerations are adequately addressed, in line with the new amendment. This includes reviewing and possibly updating policies, objectives, and processes to incorporate climate change as a critical factor in organizational planning and decision-making.
Conclusion
The ISO 9001:2015/Amd 1:2024 amendment marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of quality management standards, embedding climate change considerations at the heart of organizational strategies. By specifically requiring organizations to assess the relevance of climate change and to consider stakeholder requirements related to environmental sustainability, the standards are setting a new benchmark for quality management in the modern era. This change not only underscores the importance of environmental stewardship but also positions organizations to be more resilient, responsible, and forward-thinking in their operations.