Environmental Sustainability – ISO 14001:2026 Revised: What Has Changed?
Ian Erskine — Managing Director & CEO, ACI Global & E-Quip
ACI Podcast Episode 86: We sit down with Ian Erskine, Managing Director and CEO of ACI Global and e-Quip, for the 86th episode in his ongoing Xraised series. With over 40 years of experience helping organisations across global industries achieve excellence, corporate social responsibility, and sustained success, Ian returns with one of the most practically important conversations for any organisation currently certified or pursuing certification under ISO 14001.
This episode focuses entirely on ISO 14001:2026, the revised edition of the world's most widely used environmental management systems standard, and what has changed, what has not, and what it means for organisations working toward sustained success in a world where environmental responsibility is no longer optional.
Ian opens by addressing the most significant evolution in the 2026 revision: the first explicit mention of lifecycle monitoring within the standard, and what that means for how organisations must now think about their environmental aspects and impacts from inception through to disposal. He also unpacks the updated focus on changes to the climate, biodiversity, ecosystem health, pollution, and resource management, explaining through real-world examples how local environmental conditions both affect and are affected by business operations in ways organisations have often overlooked.
The conversation then moves into governance, where ISO 14001:2026 now draws a much clearer connection between environmental management and organisational strategy, ethics, culture, due diligence frameworks, Modern Slavery Policy, and Code of Conduct Policy. Ian makes the case that these are not separate conformance exercises but interconnected foundations of total quality management and long-term organisational credibility.
He also addresses the transition directly: for organisations already certified to ISO 14001:2015, the move to 2026 should be smooth. And if key elements like planning and environmental aspects are only being discovered now, Ian has a clear message about what that says about the auditors and consultants involved.
This episode is essential listening for leaders, quality professionals, and organisations seeking to align people, process, quality, and performance to achieve resilient, future-ready, and sustained success.
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