The EHS Maturity Model

Changing expectations and disruptive technologies can create new environment, health and safety (EHS) challenges that should be considered. To help address these issues, the EHS Maturity Model has been developed to support organizations on their EHS journey, while also supporting in maintaining compliance and driving positive business outcomes.

Related topics Environment health and safety issues Assurance Climate change and sustainability Financial accounting advisory services Workforce

The team

Praveen Tekchandani

Praveen Tekchandani

Climate Change and Sustainability Services Leader and Partner, Assurance, Ernst & Young LLP

Nhan Quang

Nhan Quang

Partner, Climate Change and Sustainability Services, Ernst & Young LLP

What EY can do for you

Years of working with companies and EHS leaders across industries has led to the development of the EY EHS Maturity Model (EY model). Using the model, we can help to support you in:

  • Identifying EHS risks and opportunities
  • Establishing strategies to transform your EHS approach and achieve your EHS goals
  • Assessing EHS maturity and helping implement transformation activities
  • Implementing EHS enablers, including IT platforms, covering all aspects of EHS management


Regardless of your organizational challenges or your current maturity, the EY model can help to guide you on your journey to an improved EHS culture.

The EY Model supports organizations by:

1. Linking EHS to business outcomes

The EY model considers EHS as an outcome of business culture and strategy rather than as a “process.” The model challenges traditional EHS concepts in the workplace that have focused on compliance and  safety management systems.

2. Bringing people on the journey

Work performed using the EY model is collaborative and interactive in application, which means people who are involved feel their input is valued.

3. Responding to a changing working world

The EY model is innovative ­— incorporating elements in response to a changing working world. The model considers emerging trends such as digital technology and mental health, which other EHS maturity models in the marketplace may not effectively consider. 

4. Being flexible to your needs

The EY model is a framework that can be customized to suit your needs. The framework can be utilized for targeted support in a specific area, such as assessing critical risks or developing an EHS strategy. Alternatively, it can be generalized to fit within organizational priorities and budget.

 

EY EHS Maturity Model

Underpinned by years of working with companies and EHS leaders across all industries, the EY Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS) team has developed the EY EHS Maturity Model framework, which can help to evaluate and guide you on your EHS maturity journey.

Start your journey

EY EHS maturity model diagram

  • Open image description#Close image description

    The image above demonstrates the EHS Maturity Model across seven practical levers:

    1. Strategy and plan
    2.  People and engagement
    3. Governance and leadership
    4. Assurance and reporting
    5. Risk and opportunity
    6. Systems and structures
    7. Digital technology

Learn more about each of the seven levers and how they can be used to help guide your journey depending on your organization’s needs:

  • Strategy and plan

    EY teams can help you establish a strategy to transform your approach to EHS and achieve your EHS goals in a way that considers your organization’s priorities, culture and risk profile.

  • People and engagement

    EY teams can help you to develop and provide a range of initiatives to promote engagement and foster a positive EHS culture through capability, competency, capacity and motivation of the workforce to help manage EHS risk.

  • Governance and leadership

    EY teams can help you to develop your EHS leadership capabilities by considering appropriate accountabilities, governance structures and leadership behaviors to drive desired EHS culture.  

  • Assurance and reporting

    EY teams can help you to design a leading practice audit framework, which aligns with your risk and operational profile. This may include consideration of the way your organization captures and reports on EHS data, assessment of critical controls (both physical and psychosocial), and how reporting can be used to drive continuous improvement.

  • Risk and opportunity

    EY teams can help you to understand your EHS risks and develop programs so that these risks are effectively managed moving forward.

    This may include looking at how your organization identifies and assesses EHS risk and appropriate controls, or supporting in assessing risk for specific EHS risks (such as contractor management)

  • Systems and structure

    EY teams can help you to develop and implement EHS management systems that are simple and integrated into broader organizational systems, as well as to design an operating model for EHS management which promotes collaboration and accountability.

  • Digital technology

    EY teams can help you to utilize digital technology for improved EHS data analytics, risk management and capability, through use of EHS technology and data analytics.

No matter which stage you are at with your EHS journey, the EY model can support you in driving not only better EHS outcomes, but better business outcomes.

Certain services and tools may be restricted for EY audit clients and their affiliates, to comply with applicable independence standards. Connect with us for further information.

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