Environmental compliance audits: How to ensure your business meets the mark 

Be it regulators, customers or supply chains, stakeholders are demanding that sustainability moves further up the corporate agenda. Meeting obligations to people and the planet should now be a priority for businesses large and small. Environmental compliance audits are an effective way of identifying gaps and pinpoint opportunities to embed best practice. Undertaken as part of a holistic ESG strategy, audits help companies reduce risks, cut costs and move beyond addressing negative impacts to deliver regenerative outcomes.
Sustainability consulting
It is becoming increasingly important for businesses to prove or demonstrate their sustainability credentials. Many larger organisations are legally required to report on ESG metrics as highlighted in Wylde’s eBook on Navigating Sustainability Reporting and Taxation 2024 . Further down the supply chain, SMEs are being asked to disclose sustainability performance by their corporate customers and those who choose not to risk losing key contracts.  

The starting point to becoming an ethical and responsible business is understanding your impacts through a sustainability lens. Environmental compliance audits are a useful tool to highlight where a business is falling short of its legal obligations, how it is performing in terms of resource management and whether its operations are aligned with its vision and values. At Wylde Connections, we have experience supporting businesses at every stage of their journey.

 

Environmental Reporting

As the UK attempts to combat climate change and meet its net Zero 2050 commitment, ESG regulation is ramping up. Legislators now require a growing number of businesses to report on their performance across a range of areas including declaring greenhouse gas emissions, reporting on energy usage and identifying environmental risks. 

Wylde’s eBook on Navigating ESG Reporting and Taxation examines the ever-changing regulatory landscape. Too many businesses are not aware about which regulations apply to them and are not putting the systems and measures in place to secure compliance. Failure to do so can result in sanctions, heavy fines and reputational damage. 

Environmental compliance audits provide an ideal opportunity to clarify reporting requirements and start to put actions in place to meet and go beyond compliance. Wylde’s team of expert sustainability consultants are on hand to conduct a thorough and bespoke ESG Audit to clarify your position before helping you demonstrate your credentials and meet your goals. 

Our ESG Compliance audit provides the opportunity to analyse your performance, highlighting your strengths and shining a spotlight on areas for improvement. It involves:

Planning and Scoping: We define the audit’s objectives, select relevant ESG frameworks, and set the scope based on your unique needs.

Data Collection: We gather and analyse key data on environmental, social, and governance practices from across your operations.

Evaluation: Our team conducts a detailed evaluation against industry standards, regulations, and best practices to identify gaps and opportunities.

Reporting: We provide a clear, actionable report with findings, risks, and tailored recommendations for improvement.

Action Planning and Monitoring: We develop an ESG improvement plan and support continuous monitoring to ensure ongoing compliance and performance enhancement.

 

Transformative thinking

 Wylde can also help your business establish its baseline GHG emissions before developing and implementing a robust carbon reduction plan.  That will act as a road map to support you in minimising your negative impacts, cut costs, meet customer demand and gain competitive advantage.

Many clients take advantage of our ESG Audits and carbon calculations as part of our wider consultancy offer. Wylde’s five-step sustainability consultancy process of  Assess, Develop, Implement, Engage and Transform is designed to help showcase best practice and future proof your business. 

The first phase involves us taking a deep dive into your operations through a sustainable business review. We explore strategies for mitigating threats and optimising opportunities, before moving onto developing and implementing a comprehensive sustainability strategy and action plan. That will look beyond compliance to consider where you might adopt regenerative practice and have positive impacts, such as enhancing biodiversity.

 

People and planet

The most effective sustainability audits are those which look beyond the environment. Addressing social impact and good governance are equally important when embedding sustainability. 

Be it conducting supply chain due diligence to identify human rights violations or supporting staff by paying the real living wage, Wylde is experienced at helping businesses see the bigger picture through our comprehensive solutions. As part of our consulting process, we will audit your performance across the whole ESG arena whilst supporting you in developing and demonstrating your credentials.

 It is important that you report on your progress, not only to regulators but everyone within your value chain and stakeholder engagement is a fundamental part of the Wylde offer. In addition, as your Trusted Sustainability Partner we are available to provide a host of other services including implementation of Environmental Management Systems and support securing accreditations such as B Corp and EcoVadis. We are also an IEMA accredited training centre and deliver a wide range of sustainability courses and workshops. 


Talk to Wylde to learn more about how we can transform your business by putting sustainability at the heart of your strategy. Book a Discovery Call today.