Twelve Days of Compliance: Small Steps Toward a Stronger Program

Companies of all sizes and in all industries need to ensure that they are giving due consideration to environmental compliance. Not only can compliance failures harm the environment, but they can also expose companies to significant liability. As a result, a proactive approach to compliance is essential, and company owners and executives should not hesitate to contact a California environmental attorney if necessary.  

Steps Companies Can Take Now to Enhance Their Environmental Compliance Programs

With this in mind, and with the holiday season upon us, here are twelve steps companies can take now to enhance their environmental compliance programs for the future:

1. Making Sure the Company’s Environmental Compliance Program is Up to Date

Companies need to ensure that they have up-to-date environmental compliance programs. Environmental laws, regulations, and policies change, and when they change, companies need to update their compliance programs accordingly. We have seen some significant changes in 2025, and if your company’s environmental compliance program hasn’t been touched in a year or longer, some important updates may be necessary.

2. Making Sure Everyone Knows About the Company’s Environmental Compliance Program

When it comes to environmental compliance, simply having a compliance program isn’t enough. Implementation is also essential. One of the first steps toward effectively implementing an environmental compliance program is making sure everyone knows it exists. If your company’s environmental compliance documents have not been distributed on an organization-wide scale, or if new personnel may not be aware of the company’s environmental compliance obligations, this is something that can (and should) be easily remedied.

3. Scheduling Environmental Compliance Training 

Along with internally distributing their environmental compliance documents, companies should also ensure that all relevant personnel have received all necessary training. If your company is behind on environmental compliance training, this is low-hanging fruit for improving compliance.

4. Reevaluating the Company’s Sustainability Goals for 2026

Sustainability goals are important for environmental compliance and stewardship, but like compliance programs, far too often they simply get left on the shelf. If you have not recently revisited your company’s sustainability goals, now is the time to reevaluate these goals for 2026. In some cases, sustainability reporting is required, triggering the need for a review to ensure your company has complied with all requirements before critical deadlines.

5. Improving the Company’s Waste Management Protocols

Improving a company’s waste management protocols is a simple and effective way to reduce the company’s environmental impact while making everyone aware of the company’s environmental compliance obligations and initiatives. From reducing waste to placing increased emphasis on segregation, as well as recycling, companies have a variety of ways to improve their waste impacts.

6. Identifying New Potential Areas of Concern

As companies grow and evolve, their environmental compliance obligations can grow and evolve as well. If your company has launched new products, opened new facilities, or engaged new vendors in 2025, these are three examples of developments (among many others) that may have environmental compliance implications and should be reviewed.

7. Ensuring that Employees Know They Can Come Forward Without Repercussions

Employees play an important role in helping companies manage environmental compliance. This includes not only adhering to compliant practices but also reporting potential compliance concerns when necessary. With this in mind, all companies should ensure that their employees know they can come forward without repercussions. If employees know that reporting potential compliance concerns is not only acceptable but encouraged, this can help companies identify and remedy issues before they lead to bigger problems.

8. Establishing Clear Protocols and Communication Channels for Reporting Environmental Compliance Concerns

In this same vein, companies should establish clear protocols and communications channels for reporting environmental compliance concerns. Employees should have the ability to come forward anonymously if they choose to do so. The protocols for coming forward should be outlined in the company’s compliance documentation and training materials, and employees should know who to contact (and how) if they have concerns.

9. Making Sure You Know the Company’s Upcoming Reporting Deadlines

Companies may need to meet a variety of reporting deadlines in order to maintain environmental compliance on an ongoing basis. If you are not aware of your company’s reporting deadlines and/or do not have automated reminders in place to ensure timely filing, these are improvements that you will likely want to prioritize.

10. Reaffirming the Company’s Commitment to Environmental Stewardship

While environmental compliance requires time, effort, and resources, companies should not solely view environmental compliance as a burden. They should also promote environmental stewardship within their operations. By framing the company’s compliance efforts as stewardship and by periodically reaffirming the company’s commitment to environmental stewardship, companies can give their employees a feeling of purpose that also helps to foster compliance.

11. Adopting a Mindset of Continuous Improvement

Likewise, when it comes to environmental compliance, companies should adopt a mindset of continuous improvement. This mindset should start at the top, and it should trickle down to all aspects of a company’s operations. If personnel at all levels of the organization are encouraged to find ways that they can reduce waste, reduce compliance costs, or increase efficiencies, this can have enduring positive effects that pay dividends in the long run.

12. Contacting the Company’s Environmental Counsel if You Have Questions or Concerns

Finally, while there are steps that companies can (and should) take to strengthen their environmental compliance programs independently, there are also steps that require legal guidance. Environmental compliance can be extraordinarily complex, and understanding (and meeting) companies’ compliance obligations requires an informed, comprehensive, and strategic approach.

With this in mind, if you have questions or concerns, you should not hesitate to reach out to your company’s environmental counsel for help. If your company doesn’t currently have environmental counsel, we invite you to schedule a call with a California environmental attorney at Bick Law LLP.

Speak with a California Environmental Attorney at Bick Law LLP

Bick Law LLP is an environmental law firm that assists companies of all sizes and in all industries with all aspects of environmental compliance. To speak with a California environmental attorney at our firm in confidence, call us at 949-432-3500 to arrange a confidential initial consultation.