Templates and records · ISO 14001 · Clause 6.2
ISO 14001 environmental objectives and action plan template
The measurable environmental targets the company sets itself and the plan to achieve them: what will be done, with what resources, who is accountable and how it will be measured.
In one sentence
Environmental objectives are measurable targets, consistent with the policy and the significant aspects, each with a plan setting out actions, resources, owner, deadline and an indicator for evaluation, which ISO 14001 requires to be maintained as documented information (6.2.1 and 6.2.2).
- Where the standard requires it
- ISO 14001 · Clause 6.2 Clauses are cited with the ISO 14001:2015 numbering, the same one the Academy uses. The 2026 edition was published on 15 April 2026 and 2015 certificates must transition to it before 30 April 2029.
- Type of information
- Mandatory document Documented information to be maintained (6.2.1)
- Who fills it in
- Top management, on the environmental manager’s proposal Each objective has an owner for its plan
- When
- Once a year and when significant aspects change Monitoring follows the frequency of the indicator, usually monthly
- How long it is kept
- Current version plus results from previous years Year-end closures show the improvement in environmental performance
What the standard requires
What ISO 14001 demands and what it leaves to your judgement
Objectives must be set taking into account significant aspects, compliance obligations and risks and opportunities, be measurable where practicable, communicated and updated. Planning must state what will be done, with what resources, who is responsible, when it will be completed and how the results will be evaluated.
The last point is what most sets the environmental standard apart: it asks for indicators to track progress towards measurable objectives. «Reduce consumption» is not enough; you need a figure, a baseline and a measurement method.
An objective can be about improvement, but also about maintaining a good result or meeting a new obligation.
Structure
Fields the template should include
- Objective, reference and approval date
- Significant aspect, risk or requirement it stems from
- Indicator, baseline value and target
- Planned actions
- Resources allocated
- Owner and completion date
- Periodic monitoring of the indicator
- Final evaluation and conclusion
Example
Example: electricity consumption objective (fictitious company)
Company, people and figures are fictitious: the example only shows what a properly completed record looks like.
| Field | Content |
|---|---|
| Objective | OA-2026-01 · cut electricity consumption per tonne produced by 8 % · approved on 27 January 2026 |
| Origin | Significant aspect «electricity consumption of injection moulding machines» |
| Indicator | kWh per tonne · 2025 baseline: 612 kWh/t · 2026 target: 563 kWh/t |
| Actions | Variable speed drives on two machines · automatic shutdown for stops over 20 minutes · training for each shift |
| Resources | €38,000 investment and 12 hours of training |
| Owner and deadline | Maintenance manager · 31 December 2026 |
| Progress to September | 571 kWh/t cumulative · on track for the target |
At the audit
Mistakes auditors commonly flag
- Objectives with no baseline or target, impossible to evaluate.
- Objectives unrelated to any significant aspect.
- Absolute indicators that improve only because output falls.
- The plan does not say who or with what resources.
- The result is not evaluated at year end.
In Kimobox
How this record is kept in Kimobox
- 1Environmental objectives are defined with an indicator and the system calculates progress.
- 2Water, energy and fuel consumption feed the monthly indicator without separate spreadsheets.
- 3Each action in the plan has an owner and a date, with a warning if it slips.
- 4Objectives and their progress are communicated to each user according to their role.
Frequently asked questions
What people ask us before getting started
How do they differ from quality objectives?
The logic is the same, but ISO 14001 ties them to significant aspects and explicitly asks for indicators to evaluate progress. In an integrated system they can sit in the same register, each with its origin.
How many objectives should there be?
The standard does not set a number. The sensible approach is for every significant aspect to be addressed by an objective, an operational control or both.
Is it better to use relative indicators?
Yes, when activity levels vary. Consumption per tonne or per unit produced shows the real improvement; total consumption can fall simply because less is being made.
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Sources
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.
- ISO 14001:2015 — Environmental management systems. Requirements with guidance for use ISO · 2015 edition, with Amd 1:2024; superseded by the 2026 edition
- ISO 14001:2026 — Environmental management systems. Requirements with guidance for use ISO · 2026 edition, published on 15 April 2026