Context and interested parties

Answer:

Clause 4.1 is about considering the organization as an entity embedded in a reality that is much more than environmental aspects. For example, consider a natural leather shoes manufacturing company. See Annex A.4.1 a) of ISO 14001:2015:

Environmental conditions – natural leather comes from large herds of intensive livestock farming with strong environmental consequences, including emissions relevant to global warming and biodiversity. Liquid waste generation during leather production, solid waste generation during shoes production, exponential rising of transport needs, end of life disposal of used shoes

See Annex A.4.1 b) of ISO 14001:2015:

External issues – the trend to use more and more materials other than leather, the trend for more and more restrictions to the use of chemicals in the leather tre atment, the exponential rising need for home delivery, more and more consumers following trends like veganism

See Annex A.4.1 c) of ISO 14001:2015:

Internal issues – the need to improve efficiency and reduce wastes, old equipment with high energy consumption, the difficulty in hiring new workers, the trend for smaller and smaller orders and fast deliveries
Instead of considering environmental aspects and impacts in a particular moment only, you can consider what will be the most likely evolution

About interested parties (clause 4.2), organizations live in a network of relationships: customers, neighbors, suppliers, workers, customer’s customers, regulators, … some with more or less power or influence over the organization can influence environmental priorities of the organization. For example, strategic target-consumers (customer’s customers) can increasingly appreciate customization and buy online, something that will reduce efficiency and increase transportation needs. Neighbors can be against the increase frequency of transporting vehicles.

The following material will provide you information about context and interested parties:

- ISO 14001 – Determining the context of the organization in ISO 14001 - https://advisera.com/14001academy/knowledgebase/determining-the-context-of-the-organization-in-iso-14001/
- How to determine interested parties according to ISO 14001:2015 - https://advisera.com/14001academy/blog/2019/08/27/key-iso-14001-benefits-to-customers/nowledgebase/how-to-determine-interested-parties-according-to-iso-140012015/
- free online training ISO 14001:2015 Foundations Course - https://advisera.com/training/iso-14001-internal-auditor-course/
- book - THE ISO 14001:2015 COMPANION – A Straightforward Guide to Implementing an EMS in a Small Business - https://advisera.com/books/the-iso-14001-2015-companion/