9 April 2024
Attention all ISO 9001 certified companies! It’s time to familiarize yourselves with the recent 2024 amendment to the ISO 9001:2015 standard. This new amendment, effective since February 22, 2024, aims to integrate climate change considerations into organizational management systems. Read on to understand how this amendment affects both existing and future certifications to ISO 9001:2015.
Understanding the ISO 9001:2015 Amendment
The 2024 amendment marks the first modification of the current revision of the ISO 9001 standard since its publication in 2015. This amendment consists of two additions to the standard in clause 4:
Clause 4.1
Organizations are now required to assess the relevance of climate change within their operations under "Understanding the organization and its context." At the end of clause 4.1, the following text has been added:
The organization shall determine whether climate change is a relevant issue.
Clause 4.2
A note has been added to clause 4.2, which states that while no additional requirements have been introduced, “relevant interested parties can have requirements related to climate change.”Specifically, the following note was added at the end of clause 4.2:
NOTE: Relevant interested parties can have requirements related to climate change.
It is worth noting that the amendment not only affects ISO 9001, but also extends to 30 other management system standards. Notable examples include ISO 14001, ISO 27001, and ISO 45001, which are among the most widely recognized standards worldwide.
The Next ISO 9001 Revision
This amendment to the ISO 9001:2015 standard is not to be confused with the upcoming revision that will replace the current ISO 9001:2015 version. The ISO 9001 standard undergoes periodic reviews and revisions to ensure its continued relevance and usefulness. The next revision is expected to be published in 2026.Following the established pattern, certified companies will need to adopt the new standard and become re-certified during a 3-year transition period.
How Does the ISO 9001:2015 Amendment Affect You?
Fortunately, there is no need to obtain a new certification as a result of this amendment. The main action required is for organizations to determine the relevance of climate change to their quality management system (QMS) and demonstrate that this issue has been taken into account when reviewing internal and external factors. If climate change is identified as relevant to the QMS, it should be treated like other external factors and included in the evaluation of risks.
Stated in a joint statement by the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and ISO: "The overall intent of the requirements for clauses 4.1 and 4.2 remain unchanged; these clauses already include the need for the organization to consider all internal and external issues that can impact the effectiveness of their management system."Hence, though not explicitly stated by the standard previously, organizations should have already considered climate change as part of their assessment of external factors.
Changes to Your Documentation
It’s important to note that this recent amendment is merely a small add-on to the extensive list of requirements in the ISO 9001 standard. It does not alter the existing requirements' intent. Nevertheless, auditors may seek evidence that organizations have considered the issue of climate change. To provide this evidence, we recommend the following actions:
Update your procedures
Modify the procedure that covers the requirements of clause 4.1 by adding climate change to the list of considerations of external factors.
Update your forms
If you use forms that address clause 4.1 and prompt you with a list of possible external factors, add climate change to the list.
Organizations should already have procedures in place to adequately address all pertinent external issues, including climate change. Thus, no additional measures are necessary to specifically address this amendment.
Considering Climate Change
When evaluating climate change as part of the external factors impacting your organization, it is essential to consider both direct and indirect implications. Beyond direct implications, such as changing weather patterns, rising temperatures, and fluctuating water levels, organizations must consider the broader consequences of climate change. These consequences may include regulatory requirements such as emission limits, the introduction of new technologies, shifts in consumer behavior and preferences, and the potential for disruptions to supply chains due to extreme weather events, resource shortages, and changing consumer demands. Moreover, organizations should be aware that climate change can influence consumer and investor behavior.
Conclusion
The recent amendment to the ISO 9001:2015 standard underscores the growing importance of integrating climate change considerations into organizational management systems. While this amendment does not necessitate obtaining a new certification, it does require organizations to assess the relevance of climate change to their quality management systems and demonstrate this consideration in their documentation.
At 9001Simplified, we are always up to date with all the amendments and revisions that take effect, and we can help you stay compliant and future-ready with our expertise.And keep in mind, our products including the ISO 9001 Certification Toolkit come with free updates for 5 years.
Simon Keller
Training Manager, Instructor and Lead Author
Simon is the lead author of our ISO 9001 courses, templates and instructions, and is a passionate contributor to our articles and learning resources.
