The ISO 14001 standard underwent significant revisions in 2015. The updated version encourages a closer alignment between traditional environmental management systems and the footprinting approaches (Life Cycle Thinking) that many companies have adopted to assess their environmental performance. This revision also establishes a connection with ecodesign practices.

This document serves as a guide to help understand the implications of integrating life cycle thinking into management systems and to highlight the potential opportunities that arise from this integration. Its purpose is to support companies and auditors in adopting the new standard and to further promote the principles and applications of ecodesign.