This document specifies the requirements for an environmental management system that an organization can use to enhance its environmental performance. It is intended for use by an organization seeking to manage its environmental responsibilities in a systematic manner that contributes to the environmental pillar of sustainability.

This document helps an organization to achieve the intended outcomes of its environmental management system, which provide value for the environment, the organization itself and interested parties. The intended outcomes of an environmental management system include:

• enhancing environmental performance;
• meeting compliance obligations;
• achieving environmental objectives.

This document is applicable to any organization, regardless of size, type or nature, and applies to the environmental aspects of its activities, products and services that the organization determines it can either control or influence considering a life cycle perspective. This document does not state specific environmental performance criteria.

This document can be used in whole or in part to systematically improve environmental management. Claims of conformity to this document, however, are not acceptable unless all its requirements are incorporated into an organization’s environmental management system and fulfilled without exclusion.