diff --git a/company_site/company_site/settings/base.py b/company_site/company_site/settings/base.py
index a48a105..ba7ac65 100644
--- a/company_site/company_site/settings/base.py
+++ b/company_site/company_site/settings/base.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 """Shared Django settings for all environments."""
 
+import json
 import os
 from pathlib import Path
 from urllib.parse import urlparse
@@ -22,6 +23,15 @@ def env_list(key: str, default: str = "") -> list[str]:
     value = os.environ.get(key, default)
     if not value:
         return []
+    value = value.strip()
+    # Accept a JSON array (e.g. '["a","b"]') as well as a comma-separated list.
+    if value.startswith("["):
+        try:
+            parsed = json.loads(value)
+        except ValueError:
+            parsed = None
+        if isinstance(parsed, list):
+            return [str(item).strip() for item in parsed if str(item).strip()]
     return [item.strip() for item in value.split(",") if item.strip()]