Companies will benefit from ISO revisions in 2026

Hanover: In the coming year, there will be new requirements for the management system standards ISO 9001 (quality management) and ISO 14001 (environmental management). Companies should address the requirements of this revision in good time.

The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) ensures that products and services are reliable and of high quality. For this reason, ISO regularly adapts its standards to the needs of organisations and the global economy. Among other things, the upcoming revision will emphasise the topic of climate protection more strongly, as it is becoming increasingly important in business practice. In addition, the standards are to become more compatible with other standards.

This will start with the environmental standard ISO 14001: the revision is due to be published in the first quarter of 2026. The revision of ISO 9001 is expected in autumn. As soon as the new versions are published, a transition period for implementing the new requirements will come into force - usually three years.

What can companies expect?

The requirements of the revised ISO 14001 are formulated more clearly to facilitate implementation. The climate protection requirements to be implemented since last year have been fully integrated into the standard: The new ISO 14001 sets a clear tone: climate protection will become an integral part of environmental management. For companies, this means that sustainability must be anchored even more consistently in processes and strategies. "In future, the improvement of environmental performance will be defined even more broadly, helping to fulfil the expectations of customers, investors and societies. Those who act now will secure long-term competitive advantages," says Dr Ortrun Janson-Mundel, Deputy Certification Body Manager at TÜV NORD.

The new ISO 9001 separates risk and opportunity management and places new demands on ethical behaviour and compliance. "The new ISO 9001 puts quality culture centre stage - and that's a good thing. Ethical behaviour and a clear separation of risk and opportunity management not only strengthen processes, but also the trust of stakeholders. The audit is an even greater challenge to not only document quality, but to actively live it. This is an important step towards making companies fit for the future," says Ina Garroth, TIC Manager at TÜV NORD CERT.

Are further audits to be expected?

With the recent revisions of ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, it is to be expected that further management standards will follow. ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety management) is already at an early stage of revision, with a new edition expected to be published in 2027. The standardised structure of the management systems means that changes to the ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards will result in further revisions to other standards in order to ensure a consistent system.

How should companies prepare?

Companies should familiarise themselves with the changes to the standards in good time and check their management systems for deviations. Even if the changes are less extensive than in the last major revisions, they are strategically significant. The drafts published by ISO provide an initial impression. "However, these are no substitute for a detailed look at the final revision," says Ina Garroth. She advises companies to inform and involve managers and everyone involved in the process at an early stage.

Conclusion: Those who deal with the changes now can use the revision as a lever for greater sustainability, resilience and ethical leadership.