The main components of ISO 14001 are outlined in its mandatory clauses, which are clauses 4 to 10. These components apply to an organization as follows:

1. **Context of the organization (Clause 4)**: Requires organizations to consider external and internal issues, interested parties, and define the scope of the Environmental Management System (EMS).

2. **Leadership (Clause 5)**: Involves defining top management responsibilities, setting roles and responsibilities for the EMS, and defining the Environmental Policy.

3. **Planning (Clause 6)**: Involves assessing environmental risks and aspects, determining compliance obligations, and setting environmental objectives.

4. **Support (Clause 7)**: Covers the availability of resources, competencies, awareness, communication, and control of documents and records.

5. **Operation (Clause 8)**: Encompasses planning, implementing, and controlling processes to achieve required performance and respond to environmental emergencies.

6. **Performance evaluation (Clause 9)**: Involves monitoring, measurement, compliance evaluation, analysis, evaluation, internal audit, and management review.

7. **Improvement (Clause 10)**: Focuses on nonconformities, corrections, corrective actions, and continual improvement.

These components help organizations improve their environmental performance by efficiently using resources and reducing waste, thereby gaining a competitive advantage.