ISO 14001 Audit Services

Pro QC is a Global Quality Assurance company that provides ISO 14001 audit services in over 88 countries. With nearly 40 years of experience in auditing, Pro QC is a trusted partner for businesses that need to improve their Environmental Management System (EMS) or prepare for a certification audit.

Pro QC’s ISO 14001:2015 audit services answer the following needs:

A buying company wants to ensure that its suppliers comply with ISO 14001
Any company that seeks to continually improve its environmental management system performance
Companies that seek internal audit and development support to prepare for an ISO 14001 certification audit, or maintain the certification
A supplier looking to comply with their client’s compliance requirements

ISO 14001 Audit Approach

Pro QC’s ISO 14001 audit services are conducted by qualified auditors, with years of auditing experience. Our technical expertise and ability to provide custom-made solutions are an asset for organizations that need to evaluate their current compliance level with the standard, prepare or maintain an ISO 14001 certification and improve their EMS.

Our on-site audits are based on factual observations and are impartial. During an ISO 14001 EMS audit, the auditor collects all the evidence on the current compliance level of the organization against the ISO 14001 standard. Once the audit is completed, the auditor will conclude the strengths and opportunities for improvement identified during the audit and can develop a detailed corrective action plan so clients can reach their goals successfully. The audit results, recommendations, and photographic evidence are included in the final audit report.

What is ISO 14001 EMS Audit?

ISO 14001 is the main international standard for Environmental Management Systems (EMS). It provides a framework and defines the requirements that organizations must meet to manage the environmental impacts related to their activities. Based on these guidelines, organizations can establish the necessary policies and procedures that actively reduce their impact on the environment. At the same time, organizations can identify, plan and mitigate potential environmental risks to comply with current legislation and internal environmental policies.

ISO 14001 is an auditable EMS standard and is often used as an auditing tool for big retailers like Walmart, Home Depot, and Costco, to audit their vendors and factories. This environmental audit is often combined with social accountability and quality system audits when a vendor decides to supply to these retailers. The audit helps buyers/suppliers to identify nonconformances and encourages them to rectify the issues to provide a vote of confidence to their buyers and internal stakeholders. Many socially responsible organizations often implement their own EMS based on the ISO 14001 standard even though they are not seeking certifications.

ISO 14001 Audit Checklist

Pro QC’s ISO 14001 EMS audit checklist is based on the current, recently reviewed, and confirmed 2015 version and is comprised of:

Context of the organization
- Understanding of the organization and its context
- UNeeds and expectations of interested parties
- UScope of the Environmental Management System
- UEnvironmental Management System & Process
Leadership
- Leadership and commitment
- Environmental policy
- Organizational roles, responsibilities, and authorities
Planning
- Actions to address risks and opportunities
- Environmental objectives and planning to achieve them
Support
- Resources
- Competence
- Awareness
- Communication
- Documented information
- Control of documented information
Operation
- Operational planning and control
- Emergency preparedness and response
Performance evaluation
- Monitoring, measurement, analysis, and evaluation
- Internal audit
- Management review
Improvement
- General
- Nonconformity and corrective action
- Continual improvement

ISO 14001 and ISO 9001

ISO 14001 focuses on environmental management systems while ISO 9001 specifies the framework and requirements of a quality management system. The most recent revision of ISO 14001 takes further steps to harmonize its requirements with the ISO 9001 standard. A company meeting the requirements of one standard is, therefore, better positioned to meet the other standard. The requirements differ but do not contradict each other. It is therefore advisable to advance the ISO certification effort concurrently but not necessarily to merge them into one project.

What are the benefits of ISO 14001 compliance?

Meeting the requirements of the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System standard helps to:

Reduce resource waste (water and energy consumption)
Control regulatory compliance and monitor environmental performance
Improve transparency and business reputation
Implement procedures to prevent environmental crimes
Provide a systematic and organized approach to environmental challenges
Improve communication with the authorities

Pro QC’s ISO 14001 Audit Outcomes

Audit report delivered within 72 hours after the service

Pro QC clients can expect an organized ISO 14001 EMS audit report delivered within 72 hours after the service and presented in exhaustive detail. Each report provides:

A summary of the audit
The overall audit score and compliance level with ISO 14001
The compliance level for each part of the standard. Each finding is explained in clear language and is color-coded
The recommended corrective actions to implement
Objective evidence such as photos, interviews, and examined records and documents

Corrective action plan

The ISO 14001 audit is only the first step. If the compliance level is subpar, a corrective action plan should be developed and implemented to effectively improve the EMS performance sustainably. Pro QC helps the audited organization to reach full compliance by:

Performing an ISO 14001 EMS audit
Establishing a corrective action plan
Verifying corrective action implementation through detailed follow-up activities
Controlling performance and facilitating continuous improvement.

Download Sample Reports

ISO 14001 Audit Sample Report

to request a personalized report template for your project

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ISO 14001 Audit Services