This context of the organization procedure template can assist your business comply with AS/NZS ISO 14001, Environmental Management Systems clause:
The context of an organization is the environment within which it operates. It includes all factors that can affect the organization’s ability to achieve its objectives.
The AS/NZS ISO 14001 standard requires organizations to consider the context in which they operate as part of their environmental management system. This includes understanding external and internal issues that could affect their ability to achieve their environmental objectives.
The international standard for AS/NZS ISO 14001, environmental management systems, does not prescribe methods for determining the context of an organization.
Therefore, this procedure template follows a very practical four-step approach:
1. Identify who are the relevant interested parties and what their AS/NZS ISO 14001 requirements, needs and expectations are.
2. Identify the internal issues that can affect our products, services, investments and interested parties.
3. Identify the external issues that can affect our organization’s products, services, investments and interested parties.
4. Regularly review, maintain and continually improve those external and internal issues, and interested parties that have been identified, so that intended outcomes are achieved.
Note: By taking the time to consider all of these factors, you can ensure that your AS/NZS ISO 14001 implementation will be successful.
This 8-page context of the organization procedure can help you implement, maintain and continually improve on how to establish the context of your organization and the subsequent objectives and direction through the:
The procedure can help you understand how relevant factors arising from political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental issues that may influence your organization’s strategic direction based on its organizational context.
This procedure can also be applied to the processes of defining your organization’s position in the marketplace.
Note: The development and implementation of a systematic approach to environmental management is essential for addressing environmental aspects and impacts. By clearly defining environmental responsibilities, organizations can enhance their environmental outcomes and minimize their overall environmental impact.
