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Module 7 of 7 · ISO 14001:2015 · Clause 10

Improvement

The final clause closes the loop: what happens when an environmental nonconformity occurs, and how that turns into a real improvement in performance.

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Nonconformity and corrective action

When an environmental nonconformity occurs —a spill, a detected legal breach— you must react, control and correct its consequences, evaluate the root cause and implement the necessary corrective action.

Continual improvement of environmental performance

Continually improve the suitability, adequacy and effectiveness of the system to enhance environmental performance, drawing on the results of analysis, evaluation and management review.

What an auditor usually asks for

  • An environmental nonconformity log recording root cause
  • Documented verification that each corrective action was effective
  • A link between repeated environmental incidents and the aspects register
  • An environmental performance improvement plan with concrete actions

How to cover improvement in Kimobox

  1. 1Open every environmental nonconformity with a mandatory root cause.
  2. 2Assign the corrective action to an owner and a date, flagged if it runs late.
  3. 3Verify the action's effectiveness and update the aspects matrix if needed.

Every environmental incident stays linked to its cause, its action and its effectiveness check.

See nonconformities and corrective actions in Kimobox

Where each figure comes from

References to the official text in force. If a standard is revised, this page is updated and the review date says so.

  1. ISO 14001:2015 — Environmental management systems. Requirements ISO · 2015 ed., with Amd 1:2024
  2. Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 (EMAS) EUR-Lex · 25 November 2009