Environment Agency commitment to quality
Updated 11 November 2025
Applies to England
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/environment-agency-quality-policy-and-environmental-statement/environment-agency-commitment-to-quality
The Environment Agency’s Quality Management System (QMS) is the principal framework through which we manage, deliver and assure the delivery of our business processes, outcomes, and commitments. It supports the strategic direction set out in our EA 2030 strategy, including its goals, principles, and pillars.
1. Quality Management System (QMS)
Our QMS enables us to:
- consistently meet legal, regulatory, and delivery commitments, including those set by Defra and government
- deliver environmental outcomes that align with our organisational commitments and values
- provide a structured approach for setting, monitoring, and achieving quality objectives
- promote a culture of continual improvement across all areas of our work
- ensure that quality principles are embedded, understood, and applied throughout the organisation
This policy underpins our commitment to excellence, accountability, and sustainable environmental stewardship.
The Environment Agency will operate in line with our strategy Environment Agency: EA2030 change for a better environment which sets out the following goals, principles and pillars.
2. Goals
Our goals are:
- healthy air, land and water supporting nature’s recovery
- sustainable growth
- a nation resilient to climate change
3. Principles
Our principles are:
- act with clarity: we are clear about our role, scope and purpose. We look to simplify how we work, and act as one organisation with shared priorities
- act with knowledge and conviction: we speak with authority and lead with science and insight to influence change
- focus on efficient and effective delivery: we commit to and deliver outcomes, embrace efficiency and become more financially self-sufficient
- find solutions to problems old and new: we innovate and apply modern science, technology and ways of working to drive lasting change
- work more closely with partners: we solve problems together, collaborating to make progress as the world changes
- serve with care: we prioritise the health, safety and wellbeing of our people and the public, always looking after each other and the communities we serve
4. Pillars
Our:
- people and culture pillar sets out how we will nurture and invest in our greatest assets
- ways of working pillar sets out how we will transform, how we collaborate with partners and serve our customers based on our science and knowledge.
- digital and technology pillar sets out how will transform our services through modern tools and systems
- funding pillar sets out how we will gain more financial flexibility to invest in long-term environmental solutions and innovation
5. Commitment to our primary management systems objectives
The Environment Agency also commits to it primary management systems objectives of:
- efficient and effective management of risk and assurance including audits, performance management and non-conformance through our governance reviews
- review and revise this policy, organisational objectives and measures in line with our Environment Agency strategy and regularly communicate them to colleagues
This policy will define our management systems approach to all we do as an organisation.
We are fully committed to this policy as the Environment Agency’s leadership.
Signed:
Philip Duffy – Chief Executive and Accounting Officer
Alan Lovell – Chair