Environmental Performance Matrix Template

by Nick T

The environment performance matrix or “EPM” is an important tool for environmental management under the international standard ISO 14001. The EPM helps organizations identify, track and monitor their environmental performance improvement. It enables organizations to set environmental targets and objectives and to measure their progress towards these goals.

To use the matrix, an organization first assesses its environmental performance using the criteria in each quadrant. It then compares its performance to that of its competitors. The organization can then set environmental objectives based on its assessment of its performance and that of its competitors.

Environment performance matrix

Types of Environmental performance matrix

There are many different types of environmental performance matrices in ISO 14001. Some of the most common include:

1. The ecological footprint matrix is a tool that can be used to measure the sustainability of an organization. It is often used to compare the environmental impact of different products or services.

2. The carbon footprint matrix is a tool that can be used to measure the greenhouse gas emissions of an organization. It is often used to compare the emissions of different products or services.

3. The water footprint matrix is a tool that can be used to measure the water use of an organization. It is often used to compare the water use of different products or services.

4. The waste footprint matrix is a tool that can be used to measure the waste generated by an organization. It is often used to compare the waste generated by different products or services.

ISO 14001

Importance Of Environmental Performance Matrix

An environmental performance matrix is a tool used to evaluate an organization's environmental performance in its business activities. The matrix is used to set environmental performance goals and track progress towards these goals. It can also be used to identify areas where improvements can be made.

The matrix is based on the environmental management system ISO 14001. The system is a set of environmental management standards that help organizations to improve their environmental performance. ISO 14001 is the most widely used environmental management system in the world.

  • The matrix is important because it helps organizations track their environmental performance and identify areas where improvements can be made. By using the matrix, organizations can set environmental performance goals and monitor progress towards these goals.
  • Additionally, the matrix can help organizations to find opportunities for improving their environmental performance. The tool is arranged with different business activities on the left side of the matrix and different environmental performance indicators on the right side of the matrix.
  • Each business activity is then rated on each environmental performance indicator, from 0 to 5. A rating of 0 means that the organization does not have any impact on that indicator, while a rating of 5 means that the organization has a significant impact on that indicator.
  • The ratings are meant to show how well an organization is doing in terms of its environmental performance. They are not intended to be a perfect measure of an organization's environmental performance, but rather a way to track progress and identify areas where improvements can be made.

Factors To Consider While Implementing The Environment Performance Matrix

Environment performance matrix
  • Organization Type- The first factor you should consider when developing your organization's environmental performance matrix is the type of organization. There are three main types of organizations: for-profit, nonprofit, and governmental. Each type of organization has different environmental performance drivers.
  • Mission and Goals- The second factor you should consider when developing your organization's environmental performance matrix is the mission and goals of the organization. What are the organization's core values? What does the organization hope to achieve? Once you have answered these questions, you can begin identifying which environmental performance indicators (EPIs) are most important to your organization.
  • Organizational Structure- The third factor you should consider when developing your organization's environmental performance matrix is the organizational structure. How is the organization structured? What are the hierarchy and reporting relationships? Knowing this information will help you identify which EPIs are most relevant to your organization.
  • Regulatory Compliance- The fourth factor you should consider when developing your organization's environmental performance matrix is regulatory compliance. What environmental regulations does your organization need to comply with? Which EPIs will help you track compliance with these regulations?

Dimensions Of Environment Performance Matrix

The matrix can be used to assess environmental performance in terms of three key dimensions: environmental impact, environmental management, and environmental reporting. The environment performance matrix is composed of nine environmental indicators, which are further divided into three categories: environmental impact, environmental management, and environmental reporting.

The nine indicators are greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, water consumption, waste generation, pollution, deforestation, land use, biodiversity loss, and climate change. Each indicator is then given a weighting based on its importance to the overall assessment.

The total score for each company or organization is then calculated by summing the weighted scores for each indicator. The score can be used to compare the environmental performance of different companies or organizations.
The indicators are as follows:

  • Greenhouse gas emissions: This indicator measures the emissions of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, from a company or organization.
  • Energy consumption: This indicator measures the amount of energy consumed by a company or organization.
  • Water consumption: This indicator measures the amount of water consumed by a company or organization.
  • Waste generation: This indicator measures the amount of waste generated by a company or organization.
  • Pollution: This indicator measures the release of pollutants into the environment by a company or organization.
  • Deforestation: This indicator measures the loss of trees and other vegetation due to activities such as logging and land clearing carried out by a company or organization.
  • Land use: This indicator measures how land is used by a company or organization.

Instructions To Use The Document

All yellow indicated numbers in the Environmental performance matrix need action to be taken. Below are the details:

Environmental performance matrix


1. Provide the Revision History of the document

  • Revision Number: in the order of 00,01,02, etc. 
  • Date: Revision Date of Document in dd-mmm-yyyy. 
  • Prepared By: Name of the person who prepared the document
  • Reviewed By: Name of the person who reviewed the document after revision
  • Approved By: Name of the person who approved the document after revision
  • Description: Describe the revision

2. Insert Company Name
3. monthly, quarterly as per organization
4. Sample details are filled for reference, insert as per organization
5. Sample details are filled for reference, insert as per organization

ISO 14001