1. Context of the Organisation (Clause 4.1)
Everything flows from this.
If the business doesn’t understand its internal and external influences, nothing else will line up.
Ask:
- What influences your environmental impact?
- How do you identify these?
- Who’s involved in that process?
🔍 Look for strategic thinking — not just a SWOT on a shelf.
2. Environmental Aspects (Clause 6.1.2)
This is the core of any EMS.
If this isn’t clear, the rest of the system is just noise.
Ask:
- What are your key environmental aspects?
- How are they identified and reviewed?
- Any life cycle thinking involved?
🌱 Look for relevance, not just a recycled list from another business.
3. Compliance Obligations (Clause 6.1.3)
This keeps the system clean and legal.
No one wants to find out they’ve missed a legal requirement during an audit.
Ask:
- What legal and other requirements apply?
- How are they tracked and reviewed?
- How do you stay up to date?
📌 It’s not optional. This is about legal and other obligations — not just doing what sounds good.
4. Operational Controls (Clause 8.1)
Here’s where the talk turns into action.
Controls should exist for a reason — and be in use, not just in the manual.
Ask:
- What controls are in place for significant aspects?
- Are people following them?
- How do you verify that?
🚨 If the system says one thing and the floor says another — you’ve got your gap.
5. Performance Evaluation & Management Review (Clauses 9.1 & 9.3)
This is the result tap — it shows whether everything’s flowing properly.
If there’s no data, there’s no improvement. It’s that simple.
Ask:
- What indicators do you track?
- What trends are showing up?
- What’s changed as a result of the last management review?
📉 This is where you find out if the EMS is holding pressure — or if it’s sprung a leak.