Month: January 2025

Audits may not be the most glamorous part of Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) management, but they are undoubtedly one of the most important. A well-executed EHS audit does more than ensure compliance with complex regulations — it safeguards employees and strengthens organizational integrity. With sustainability and corporate responsibility front and center for both customers and shareholders, EHS audits have become a vital tool for reducing risk and creating long-term value.

Our podcast, Rethinking EHS, recently featured two episodes in which we spoke with EHS leaders about the importance of and methodology behind successful EHS auditing. 

Host Phil Dillard was joined by specialists from across the APAC, EMEA, and US regions. Together they shared a number of important insights into the current state and future of EHS auditing. This post distills the most impactful takeaways from those interviews, and lays out a broad framework for what you should look for in an optimized EHS audit checklist. 

Listen to the episodes:

The Rising Demand for EHS Audits in the Asia Pacific Region | InogenHelpers and Educators: EHS Audits in EMEA and the U.S. | Inogen

What Is an EHS Audit?

EHS audits are essential tools for organizations seeking to ensure compliance with legal requirements, identify operational risks, and align their business practices with sustainability goals. Audits can encompass assessments of workplace safety, environmental management, and regulatory adherence, serving as a “health check” for businesses to evaluate their regulatory compliance.

Beyond compliance, audits also enable organizations to proactively address risks and uncover opportunities for improvement. For instance, they can help identify gaps in processes, promote safer working conditions, and drive efficiencies across supply chains.

Learn more: 8 Reasons Why Your Business Needs an EHS Audit

Key Components of an Effective EHS Audit Checklist

An effective EHS audit checklist can serve as a roadmap for EHS-navigation within your organization. However, a one-size-fits-all approach rarely works in a world where regulations, industry requirements, and business operations vary widely across regions and sectors. Customizing checklists to address specific organizational and regional needs is critical to achieving meaningful results. 

Finding an EHS auditing partner who has experience and expertise will ensure that your organization’s EHS audit process is thorough and applicable to your specific needs.

Navigating regulatory requirements

As more businesses expand globally, understanding regulatory complexities has truly become the cornerstone of a successful EHS audit. Local laws, national standards, and international frameworks like ISO certifications or the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) often dictate how organizations must operate. In regions like APAC, regulations are sometimes only published in local languages, creating potential for misinterpretation when multinational companies attempt to translate them.

To build a thorough checklist, organizations must conduct extensive research to document all applicable laws and standards, including evolving requirements. This research ensures that no compliance gaps are overlooked, whether in air quality controls, hazardous material handling, or worker safety protocols. Staying ahead of regulatory updates also positions businesses to adapt quickly to changes and maintain compliance with confidence.

Include compliance and conformance checks

Compliance with legal obligations is only one part of the equation. Leading organizations also aim for conformance with internal standards and best practices, ensuring alignment with broader operational goals. For instance, benchmarks like ISO 14001 for environmental management or ISO 45001 for occupational health and safety help define and measure high standards of performance.

Incorporating these frameworks into the checklist ensures that audits not only satisfy external requirements but also create benchmarks for organizations to achieve excellence in areas like sustainability, employee wellbeing, and operational efficiency.

Account for facility-specific needs

Every facility has unique operational and environmental considerations — this is why it is vital to tailor the audit checklist accordingly. For example, warehouses and distribution centers may need to account for overlooked risks like stormwater permits, even though they are not traditionally considered high-impact facilities. Similarly, manufacturing sites may require extensive reviews of equipment safety protocols or chemical handling processes.

Tailoring the checklist to address these specifics ensures that no critical aspect is missed. This level of customization also allows organizations to identify risks unique to their industries and proactively address them before they escalate into larger issues.

Develop a comprehensive action plan

An audit is only as effective as the steps taken afterward. A strong EHS discipline must include a framework for developing a corrective action plan that prioritizes issues based on risk and impact. This helps organizations allocate resources, addressing the most pressing issues first while creating a timeline for tackling lower-priority items.

Data collected during the audit informs these plans. To maintain momentum, action items should be clearly defined, assigned to specific team members, and accompanied by trackable due dates.

Trends Shaping EHS Audits Today

The scope and significance of EHS audits are rapidly evolving as global markets expand, new technologies emerge, and sustainability becomes a central focus for businesses. Below are three major trends reshaping how organizations approach EHS auditing:

Multinational expansion

“We try wherever possible to use our local partners to do the audit … because the local partners know the local legislations.” – Dr. Roland Langmoen, Helpers and Educators: EHS Audits in EMEA and the U.S.

As companies expand operations into new regions, the demand for EHS audits has surged, particularly in dynamic markets like APAC and EMEA. Countries such as India, Vietnam, and China are hotspots for growth, driven by industries like technology, manufacturing, and supply chain logistics. This rapid development presents a dual challenge: navigating complex local regulations and ensuring compliance across diverse operational environments.

For multinational organizations, audits provide a critical mechanism for understanding regional regulatory nuances while standardizing best practices globally. Companies entering these markets must also address language barriers and cultural differences, which make local expertise an indispensable part of the auditing process.

Remote audits

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of remote audits, offering businesses an efficient and cost-effective way to maintain compliance without extensive travel. While virtual audits were initially a necessity during lockdowns, they’ve proven to be a lasting innovation, particularly for companies operating in regions with logistical or economic constraints.

“When factories have budget concerns … Some clients prefer to use remote audits. We use VR technologies to cut the cost.” – Tom Tang, The Rising Demand for EHS Audits in the Asia Pacific Region

Advancements in technology, such as virtual reality (VR) tools and remote data collection platforms, have made it easier to gather and analyze compliance information without physical site visits. These methods not only reduce costs but also contribute to sustainability by lowering the carbon footprint associated with travel. However, virtual audits come with their own challenges, requiring auditors to develop new skills in remote assessment and communication.

Integration of ESG goals

One of the key challenges in aligning Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and EHS goals is ensuring that corporate-level strategies translate effectively to individual facilities. Facility managers often face pressure to meet ambitious targets without clear guidance or adequate resources. Audits are an excellent tool for bridging that gap, providing actionable insights to align operations with overarching ESG objectives.

“We’re seeing corporate level or stakeholders pushing down or developing strategies and goals … And what we’re hearing from the facility level personnel is … they don’t know how they’re going to meet these goals.” – Lauren Corbett-Noon, Helpers and Educators: EHS Audits in EMEA and the U.S.

The Future of EHS Auditing

EHS auditing is undergoing a transformative shift, reflecting the evolving priorities of businesses, regulators, and society. As companies strive to align their operations with global sustainability goals, the future of EHS auditing will be defined by deeper integration with organizational strategy and an expanded focus beyond compliance.

From compliance checker to business partner

The traditional view of auditors as enforcers is giving way to a more collaborative role. In the future, auditors will increasingly act as business partners and educators, helping organizations meet regulatory requirements as well as identify opportunities for improvement.

Integration of sustainability goals

The future of auditing will focus on bridging the gap between corporate sustainability goals and on-the-ground implementation. By embedding sustainability into audit frameworks, organizations can align their ESG strategies with day-to-day operations, ensuring both compliance and meaningful progress toward broader environmental and social objectives.

The ripple effect across supply chains

In sectors such as manufacturing and technology, where supply chains span multiple countries and regulatory environments, audits will play a critical role in ensuring accountability and consistency. Over time, this cascading impact can raise industry-wide standards, fostering a more sustainable and ethical global marketplace.

Organizations that invest in forward-thinking EHS audits will not only meet today’s challenges but position themselves as leaders in a more responsible and resilient global economy. 

Inogen Alliance’s global network of EHS specialists have the knowledge and expertise to help your organization build a comprehensive EHS audit checklist.

 

Inogen Alliance is a global network made up of dozens of independent local businesses and over 6,000 consultants around the world who can help make your project a success. Our Associates collaborate closely to serve multinational corporations, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations, and we share knowledge and industry experience to provide the highest quality service to our clients. If you want to learn more about how you can work with Inogen Alliance, you can explore our Associates or Contact Us. Watch for more News & Blog updates here and follow us on LinkedIn.

Audits may not be the most glamorous part of Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) management, but they are undoubtedly one of the most important. A well-executed EHS audit does more than ensure compliance with complex regulations — it safeguards employees and strengthens organizational integrity. With sustainability and corporate responsibility front and center for both customers and shareholders, EHS audits have become a vital tool for reducing risk and creating long-term value.

Our podcast, Rethinking EHS, recently featured two episodes in which we spoke with EHS leaders about the importance of and methodology behind successful EHS auditing. 

Host Phil Dillard was joined by specialists from across the APAC, EMEA, and US regions. Together they shared a number of important insights into the current state and future of EHS auditing. This post distills the most impactful takeaways from those interviews, and lays out a broad framework for what you should look for in an optimized EHS audit checklist. 

Listen to the episodes:

The Rising Demand for EHS Audits in the Asia Pacific Region | InogenHelpers and Educators: EHS Audits in EMEA and the U.S. | Inogen

What Is an EHS Audit?

EHS audits are essential tools for organizations seeking to ensure compliance with legal requirements, identify operational risks, and align their business practices with sustainability goals. Audits can encompass assessments of workplace safety, environmental management, and regulatory adherence, serving as a “health check” for businesses to evaluate their regulatory compliance.

Beyond compliance, audits also enable organizations to proactively address risks and uncover opportunities for improvement. For instance, they can help identify gaps in processes, promote safer working conditions, and drive efficiencies across supply chains.

Learn more: 8 Reasons Why Your Business Needs an EHS Audit

Key Components of an Effective EHS Audit Checklist

An effective EHS audit checklist can serve as a roadmap for EHS-navigation within your organization. However, a one-size-fits-all approach rarely works in a world where regulations, industry requirements, and business operations vary widely across regions and sectors. Customizing checklists to address specific organizational and regional needs is critical to achieving meaningful results. 

Finding an EHS auditing partner who has experience and expertise will ensure that your organization’s EHS audit process is thorough and applicable to your specific needs.

Navigating regulatory requirements

As more businesses expand globally, understanding regulatory complexities has truly become the cornerstone of a successful EHS audit. Local laws, national standards, and international frameworks like ISO certifications or the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) often dictate how organizations must operate. In regions like APAC, regulations are sometimes only published in local languages, creating potential for misinterpretation when multinational companies attempt to translate them.

To build a thorough checklist, organizations must conduct extensive research to document all applicable laws and standards, including evolving requirements. This research ensures that no compliance gaps are overlooked, whether in air quality controls, hazardous material handling, or worker safety protocols. Staying ahead of regulatory updates also positions businesses to adapt quickly to changes and maintain compliance with confidence.

Include compliance and conformance checks

Compliance with legal obligations is only one part of the equation. Leading organizations also aim for conformance with internal standards and best practices, ensuring alignment with broader operational goals. For instance, benchmarks like ISO 14001 for environmental management or ISO 45001 for occupational health and safety help define and measure high standards of performance.

Incorporating these frameworks into the checklist ensures that audits not only satisfy external requirements but also create benchmarks for organizations to achieve excellence in areas like sustainability, employee wellbeing, and operational efficiency.

Account for facility-specific needs

Every facility has unique operational and environmental considerations — this is why it is vital to tailor the audit checklist accordingly. For example, warehouses and distribution centers may need to account for overlooked risks like stormwater permits, even though they are not traditionally considered high-impact facilities. Similarly, manufacturing sites may require extensive reviews of equipment safety protocols or chemical handling processes.

Tailoring the checklist to address these specifics ensures that no critical aspect is missed. This level of customization also allows organizations to identify risks unique to their industries and proactively address them before they escalate into larger issues.

Develop a comprehensive action plan

An audit is only as effective as the steps taken afterward. A strong EHS discipline must include a framework for developing a corrective action plan that prioritizes issues based on risk and impact. This helps organizations allocate resources, addressing the most pressing issues first while creating a timeline for tackling lower-priority items.

Data collected during the audit informs these plans. To maintain momentum, action items should be clearly defined, assigned to specific team members, and accompanied by trackable due dates.

Trends Shaping EHS Audits Today

The scope and significance of EHS audits are rapidly evolving as global markets expand, new technologies emerge, and sustainability becomes a central focus for businesses. Below are three major trends reshaping how organizations approach EHS auditing:

Multinational expansion

“We try wherever possible to use our local partners to do the audit … because the local partners know the local legislations.” – Dr. Roland Langmoen, Helpers and Educators: EHS Audits in EMEA and the U.S.

As companies expand operations into new regions, the demand for EHS audits has surged, particularly in dynamic markets like APAC and EMEA. Countries such as India, Vietnam, and China are hotspots for growth, driven by industries like technology, manufacturing, and supply chain logistics. This rapid development presents a dual challenge: navigating complex local regulations and ensuring compliance across diverse operational environments.

For multinational organizations, audits provide a critical mechanism for understanding regional regulatory nuances while standardizing best practices globally. Companies entering these markets must also address language barriers and cultural differences, which make local expertise an indispensable part of the auditing process.

Remote audits

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of remote audits, offering businesses an efficient and cost-effective way to maintain compliance without extensive travel. While virtual audits were initially a necessity during lockdowns, they’ve proven to be a lasting innovation, particularly for companies operating in regions with logistical or economic constraints.

“When factories have budget concerns … Some clients prefer to use remote audits. We use VR technologies to cut the cost.” – Tom Tang, The Rising Demand for EHS Audits in the Asia Pacific Region

Advancements in technology, such as virtual reality (VR) tools and remote data collection platforms, have made it easier to gather and analyze compliance information without physical site visits. These methods not only reduce costs but also contribute to sustainability by lowering the carbon footprint associated with travel. However, virtual audits come with their own challenges, requiring auditors to develop new skills in remote assessment and communication.

Integration of ESG goals

One of the key challenges in aligning Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and EHS goals is ensuring that corporate-level strategies translate effectively to individual facilities. Facility managers often face pressure to meet ambitious targets without clear guidance or adequate resources. Audits are an excellent tool for bridging that gap, providing actionable insights to align operations with overarching ESG objectives.

“We’re seeing corporate level or stakeholders pushing down or developing strategies and goals … And what we’re hearing from the facility level personnel is … they don’t know how they’re going to meet these goals.” – Lauren Corbett-Noon, Helpers and Educators: EHS Audits in EMEA and the U.S.

The Future of EHS Auditing

EHS auditing is undergoing a transformative shift, reflecting the evolving priorities of businesses, regulators, and society. As companies strive to align their operations with global sustainability goals, the future of EHS auditing will be defined by deeper integration with organizational strategy and an expanded focus beyond compliance.

From compliance checker to business partner

The traditional view of auditors as enforcers is giving way to a more collaborative role. In the future, auditors will increasingly act as business partners and educators, helping organizations meet regulatory requirements as well as identify opportunities for improvement.

Integration of sustainability goals

The future of auditing will focus on bridging the gap between corporate sustainability goals and on-the-ground implementation. By embedding sustainability into audit frameworks, organizations can align their ESG strategies with day-to-day operations, ensuring both compliance and meaningful progress toward broader environmental and social objectives.

The ripple effect across supply chains

In sectors such as manufacturing and technology, where supply chains span multiple countries and regulatory environments, audits will play a critical role in ensuring accountability and consistency. Over time, this cascading impact can raise industry-wide standards, fostering a more sustainable and ethical global marketplace.

Organizations that invest in forward-thinking EHS audits will not only meet today’s challenges but position themselves as leaders in a more responsible and resilient global economy. 

Inogen Alliance’s global network of EHS specialists have the knowledge and expertise to help your organization build a comprehensive EHS audit checklist.

 

Inogen Alliance is a global network made up of dozens of independent local businesses and over 6,000 consultants around the world who can help make your project a success. Our Associates collaborate closely to serve multinational corporations, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations, and we share knowledge and industry experience to provide the highest quality service to our clients. If you want to learn more about how you can work with Inogen Alliance, you can explore our Associates or Contact Us. Watch for more News & Blog updates here and follow us on LinkedIn.

RenuCore™ by CertainTeed, a leader in sustainable paving solutions, is thrilled to announce its partnership with Mark II Transfer Station LLC of Kansas City, Missouri, a new licensee of RenuCore’s innovative process for recycling asphalt shingles into high-performance pavement products.

This collaboration reinforces CertainTeed’s commitment to environmental responsibility and aligns with its parent company Saint-Gobain’s mission to advance a circular economy in the construction industry.

“Our partnership with Mark II Transfer Station LLC represents a significant step forward in our efforts to build a circular economy for asphalt shingles,” said Carmen Bodden, President of CertainTeed Roofing. “This partnership will provide partners like Mark II with technology to produce high-value products, and also aligns with the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturer Association’s 2035 goal of 50% waste reduction.”

RenuCore’s cutting-edge technology enables the recycling of asphalt shingles by transforming shingle waste into a valuable component in asphalt paving. The process offers a cost-effective solution for contractors by providing a method to soften the shingle asphalt back into a paving grade level product. By processing shingles into pellets that can be stored for up to one year, RenuCore is helping to extend the useful life of asphalt shingles. The paving pellets to be produced by Mark II Transfer Station LLC will be made available to hot mix asphalt producers in the Kansas City metro area, bringing the innovative RenuCore technology to a new market.

“We’re so excited to announce this innovative partnership with CertainTeed, which will position the Kansas City region as a leader in cutting edge waste management solutions,” said Jenny Monheiser, Owner of Mark II Transfer Station LLC. “Our family-owned business is proud to be part of efforts like this that increases environmental responsibility and keeps more materials out of landfills.”

RenuCore Environmental Benefits:

Recycled Content Benefit: This new technology solves earlier problems with recycling asphalt shingles into Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) by pre-treating the shingle, which shows more resistance to rutting and shoving; making storage easy as the pellets can be stored for up to one year, and does not require specialty equipment to incorporate into HMA, building a viable reuse pathway for post-industrial and post-consumer shingles. By incorporating recycled shingles into HMA, RenuCore technology reduces the need for virgin asphalt materials. HMA producers can use this technology to increase the amount of recycled asphalt product in hot mix asphalt.

Landfill Diversion and Circular Economy: Annually in the United States, 13 million tons of asphalt shingles are discarded in landfills. RenuCore’s technology repurposes the materials in the shingle, making them available as replacements for virgin materials in HMA. This circular economy approach not only conserves natural resources but also mitigates the environmental impact of shingle waste disposal.

Equitable Performance to “Virgin” HMA Materials: The RenuCore process improves the PG grade of the recycled asphalt.

About Mark II Transfer Station LLC

Mark II Transfer Station LLC is a small, family and woman-owned collection site in Kansas City, Missouri. They work with roll-off companies, roofing companies, demolition companies, construction companies, and more to handle their construction and demolition debris disposal needs.

About RenuCoreTM by CertainTeed

RenuCore, by CertainTeed, is an innovative pelletizing technology that diverts asphalt shingle waste from landfills, repurposing it into valuable reclaimed asphalt for paving. RenuCore technology is for sale by CertainTeed as a partner. The licensee will then produce RenuCore pellets, either selling them to local hot mix asphalt producers, C&D Recyclers, or use the pellets directly in their HMA mixes, saving money and promoting a circular shingle economy. Visit www.certainteed.com/renucore.

About Saint-Gobain

Worldwide leader in light and sustainable construction, Saint-Gobain designs, manufactures and distributes materials and services for the construction and industrial markets. Its integrated solutions for the renovation of public and private buildings, light construction and the decarbonization of construction and industry are developed through a continuous innovation process and provide sustainability and performance. The Group’s commitment is guided by its purpose, “MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER HOME”.

€47.9 billion in sales in 2023 
160,000 employees, locations in 76 countries 
Committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050