LRQA is among the first certification bodies to secure accreditation from the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) for ISO 14001:2026, the latest edition of the world's most widely used environmental management standard.
As part of UKAS's first tranche of accreditation decisions, LRQA can now issue UKAS-accredited certificates to the revised standard, giving organisations an early opportunity to plan and complete their transition, demonstrating their commitment to environmental performance.
What this means for certified organisations
The 2026 revision builds on ISO 14001:2015, placing greater emphasis on environmental performance, documented evidence and the management of suppliers and outsourced activities. It also incorporates the climate change considerations introduced in 2024.
With growing expectations from customers, investors and regulators, the revised standard reinforces the importance of demonstrating how environmental objectives are being managed, measured and improved.
Richard Wood, Global Head of Technical Assurance and Governance at LRQA, commented:
"Environmental commitments mean little without evidence of progress. ISO 14001:2026 puts greater emphasis on what organisations are achieving, not just what they have committed to.
"Being among the first to secure UKAS accreditation puts LRQA and our customers ahead of the transition. The deadline may be in 2029, but the opportunity is now: to get ahead of the changes, strengthen environmental performance and make the revised standard work for the business."
Planning your ISO 14001:2026 transition
Organisations certified to ISO 14001:2015 have until 30 April 2029 to complete their transition. From 31 October 2027, all new certifications must be issued to the 2026 edition.
Starting early provides an opportunity to understand the changes, identify areas requiring attention and plan transitions around existing certification activities. There are good reasons not to leave it late. Audit capacity is always most constrained in the final year of a transition window, and early adopters are among the first to hold certification to the new standard - a clear signal to customers, regulators and supply chain partners that environmental management is taken seriously.
Check your readiness for ISO 14001:2026
The quickest way to see how prepared you are is to complete our free ISO 14001:2026 Self-Assessment tool. In a few minutes you’ll find out how your current environmental management system measures up against the revised requirements and where to focus your efforts.
Looking for more on the revision? Explore our full range of ISO 14001:2026 resources and services here, or join LRQA's Transition Club for ongoing guidance and expert insight.
