Audit Software for ISO 14001
An environmental management system to ISO 14001 also has to prove itself in internal audits — planned, documented and with actions followed through. IMS-Audit Cloud covers the entire process and, as software for the integrated management system, is built to run environmental, quality and occupational health and safety audits in a single system.
Internal audits under ISO 14001:2026
Clause 9.2 of ISO 14001:2026 requires — as the 2015 edition already did — internal audits as evidence that the environmental management system conforms to the organisation’s own requirements and those of the standard, and is effectively implemented:
- Conduct internal audits at planned intervals
- Plan and maintain audit programmes — taking into account the environmental importance of the processes, changes and the results of previous audits
- Define the audit criteria and scope for each audit
- Select auditors so as to ensure objectivity and impartiality
- Report the results to the relevant management
- Retain documented information as evidence of the programme and the audit results
- In addition, the evaluation of compliance with compliance obligations (clause 9.1.2) — legal and regulatory requirements must be examined as well
Note: this overview summarises key requirements and does not replace the text of the standard.
From requirement to practice — with IMS-Audit Cloud
Audit programme for the EMS
Plan environmental audits in the same programme as quality and occupational health and safety audits — annual and Gantt views, multiple sites kept cleanly separate.
Go to feature →Assess environmental relevance
Record and assess risks and opportunities in a structured way — the matrix shows critical processes and derives the audit frequency from them.
Go to feature →Conduct audits on site
Through the plant with a tablet: record findings directly — from the hazardous materials store to the waste station, without paperwork.
Go to feature →Environmental question catalogues
Ready-made ISO 14001 standard catalogue sold separately; you structure compliance obligations and your own check items in your own catalogues and categories.
Go to feature →Follow up actions
Deviations become actions with owners, deadlines, automatic escalation and effectiveness checks.
Go to feature →Reports for management
Audit reports as PDFs in your corporate design and dashboards with key figures — ready to print for the management review and certification audit.
Go to feature →ISO 14001 and internal audits
How often are internal audits required under ISO 14001?
Like ISO 9001, ISO 14001 requires audits “at planned intervals” — without a fixed frequency. The programme is based on the environmental importance of the processes, on changes and on previous results. In IMS-Audit Cloud you plan the programme clearly and are reminded of upcoming audits.
Can I audit ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 together?
Yes — that is exactly what an integrated management system is for. In IMS-Audit Cloud you run combined audits across ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and many more in a single system, with one shared audit programme and one action cockpit.
Is ISO 14001:2015 still valid — and by when do I have to switch?
The revised ISO 14001:2026 was published on 15 April 2026. A transition period of 36 months applies: certificates to ISO 14001:2015 remain valid until 14 April 2029 at the latest, and both editions are recognised during that time. The revision is not a fundamental rewrite but clarifies existing requirements — agree the exact timetable with your certification body. If you already work with a catalogue for the 2015 edition in IMS-Audit Cloud, you simply keep auditing with it during the transition; the standard catalogue for the 2026 edition is sold separately.
Is there a ready-made question catalogue for ISO 14001?
Yes. The ISO 14001 standard catalogue for the current 2026 edition is one of the ready-made standard catalogues available from us separately — just get in touch. You create your own catalogues — for example on your compliance obligations — yourself or import them via Excel.
More answers — on pricing, hosting and contract terms — in the FAQ.
Also part of the integrated management system
Audit Software for ISO 9001
audit programme, question catalogues, corrective actions and reports — with IMS-Audit Cloud.
Learn more →Audit Software for ISO 45001
audit programme, site inspections on a tablet, actions with escalation and reports — with IMS-Audit Cloud in the browser.
Learn more →Audit Software for IATF 16949
three-year audit programme, system, process and product audits, risk-based prioritisation, 8D reports — with IMS-Audit Cloud.
Learn more →Internal audits under ISO 14001 — see it for yourself.
All modules included, no set-up fee — in a personal meeting we show you the cloud using your own topics.