ISO 14001 checklist per chapter
This ISO 14001 checklist sets out all the requirements of chapters 4 to 10, clause by clause, with the evidence an auditor wants to see. The numbering follows ISO 14001:2026 , the version published in April 2026. Where the numbering differs from the 2015 version, this is noted. Use the checklist as a gap analysis or as a final check before your ISO 14001 audit. Explanations per chapter are found under the requirements of ISO 14001.
How to use this checklist: copy the tables into a spreadsheet, add the columns “status”, “where the evidence is” and “action”, and go through them with the process owners. Certificates based on the 2015 version must, according to NEN (Netherlands Standardisation Institute), be replaced by the new version no later than 15 April 2029.
On this page
Context, interested parties, scope, leadership and environmental policy.
Chapters 4 and 5Environmental aspects, compliance, risks, objectives and changes.
Chapter 6Competence, communication, documents and emergencies.
Chapters 7 and 8Monitoring, compliance, audit and improvement.
Chapters 9 and 10Chapter 4: Context of the organisation
| Clause | Requirement | Evidence the auditor wants to see |
|---|---|---|
| 4.1 | Internal and external issues determined, including environmental conditions such as climate change, availability of raw materials and biodiversity | Context analysis with an environmental section |
| 4.2 | Relevant interested parties, their requirements and which of these become compliance obligations | Overview of interested parties |
| 4.3 | Scope determined, taking into account activities, locations and influence | Scope statement as documented information |
| 4.4 | Environmental management system established, maintained and improved | System description or environmental manual |
Chapter 5: Leadership
| Clause | Requirement | Evidence the auditor wants to see |
|---|---|---|
| 5.1 | Top management takes responsibility and makes resources available | Interview with management, minutes, budget |
| 5.2 | Environmental policy with commitment to environmental protection, compliance and continual improvement | Signed environmental policy |
| 5.3 | Roles, responsibilities and authorities assigned | Organisation chart, job description of the environmental coordinator |
Chapter 6: Planning
Chapter 6 is reorganised in the 2026 version. Environmental aspects and compliance obligations now come first and form the basis for risks and opportunities.
| Clause 2026 | Clause 2015 | Requirement | Evidence the auditor wants to see |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.1.1 | 6.1.1 | Planning process for risks, opportunities, aspects and obligations | Description of the approach |
| 6.1.2 | 6.1.2 | Environmental aspects and impacts determined from a life cycle perspective, including abnormal situations and possible emergencies; significance assessed | Environmental aspects register with criteria |
| 6.1.3 | 6.1.3 | Compliance obligations determined and accessible | Legal register, permits |
| 6.1.4 | 6.1.1 | Risks and opportunities determined based on aspects, obligations and context | Risks and opportunities overview |
| 6.1.5 | 6.1.4 | Actions planned and integrated into processes | Action plan with owner and evaluation |
| 6.2.1 | 6.2.1 | Measurable environmental objectives | Environmental objectives |
| 6.2.2 | 6.2.2 | Plan per objective: what, resources, who, when, how to evaluate | Objectives plan with progress |
| 6.3 | new | Changes that affect the system are planned and controlled | Change procedure, example of an assessed change |
Clause 6.3 is new in ISO 14001:2026 and will be checked closely in the first few years. Think of a new machine, a new supplier or a new permit condition. Show that you assessed beforehand what it means for your environmental aspects and obligations.
Chapter 7: Support
| Clause | Requirement | Evidence the auditor wants to see |
|---|---|---|
| 7.1 | Resources for the environmental management system available | Budget, time, outsourcing |
| 7.2 | Competence of people who affect environmental performance | Training records, certificates (for example for F-gases) |
| 7.3 | Awareness of policy, significant aspects and the consequences of deviating | Interviews, toolbox talks, induction checklist |
| 7.4 | Internal and external communication, including what compliance obligations require | Communication plan, record of external reports |
| 7.5 | Documented information created, controlled and retained | Document register with version control |
Chapter 8: Operation
| Clause | Requirement | Evidence the auditor wants to see |
|---|---|---|
| 8.1 | Operational control of processes with significant aspects, including outsourced processes and across the life cycle (design, procurement, delivery, end of life) | Work instructions, procurement requirements, life cycle considerations |
| 8.2 | Preparation for and response to emergencies, tested periodically | Emergency plan and drill reports |
Chapter 9: Performance evaluation
| Clause | Requirement | Evidence the auditor wants to see |
|---|---|---|
| 9.1.1 | Monitoring and measurement determined, measuring equipment calibrated | Measurement plan, energy, waste and emissions figures |
| 9.1.2 | Compliance with obligations evaluated | Compliance evaluation with outcome |
| 9.2.1 | Internal audits at planned intervals | Audit reports |
| 9.2.2 | Audit programme with objectives, criteria and scope for each audit | Audit programme, see ISO 14001 internal audit |
| 9.3 | Management review with required input and output | Minutes with decisions |
In the 2026 version, the audit programme (9.2.2) also requires you to record the objectives for each audit. The management review (9.3) is split into general, input and output.
Chapter 10: Improvement
| Clause 2026 | Clause 2015 | Requirement | Evidence the auditor wants to see |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10.1 | 10.1 and 10.3 | Continual improvement of the system and environmental performance | Trends over several years, improvement actions |
| 10.2 | 10.2 | Nonconformities corrected, cause determined, action evaluated | Nonconformity register with root cause analysis |
What changes in the checklist compared with ISO 14001:2015?
The differences are mainly in chapters 4, 6 and 10. Climate change and wider environmental conditions are now firmly part of your context. Chapter 6 has a new order and a new clause 6.3. Clause 10.3 has been merged into 10.1. All other chapters have remained substantially the same. The full overview is at ISO 14001:2026 changes and transition.
How the auditor tests this checklist
In phase 1 the auditor starts with your documents: policy, scope, aspects register, legal register and objectives. In phase 2 they follow the chain in practice. They choose a significant aspect, for example wastewater, and ask which permit condition applies, how you measure, who is authorised, and what you do if a measurement is too high. In this way one question touches chapters 6, 7, 8 and 9 at once.
Next step
Put your open points into your step-by-step plan for ISO 14001. Start with the two registers that support everything: your environmental aspects and your legal register. Combining with ISO 9001? Then also use the ISO 9001 checklist, because the chapter structure is the same.
Sources
- NEN-EN-ISO 14001:2026 , Dutch edition of the standard
- NEN: New ISO 14001: a strong basis for sustainable business , changes and transition period
- ISO.org: ISO 14001