Environmental Auditing and its Importance for Socio-Environmental Management in Organizations

Objective: To analyze the importance of environmental audit for the effectiveness of the socio-environmental management of companies. Methodology: The research consisted of a systematic review of scientific articles on the SciELO and Google Academic platforms, using specific keywords related to environmental audit and socio-environmental management. The inclusion criteria selected only scientific articles in Portuguese, available entirely on the internet and published between 2018 and 2023, excluding other types of studies and those that did not directly address the relationship between the themes. Results and data analysis: The analysis of the texts highlights the importance of environmental audits for organizations, highlighting their essential role in socio-environmental management. These audits not only identify areas of risk and ensure compliance with regulations, but also promote continuous improvements and an organizational culture focused on sustainability. In addition to boosting operational efficiency and reducing costs, they strengthen reputation and confer competitive advantages in the marketplace. While the disadvantages, such as associated costs, are recognized, the benefits of audits are considered crucial for the sustainable success of companies. Conclusion: Thus, it is concluded that environmental audits emerge as indispensable tools to mitigate environmental risks, promote sustainability and ensure competitiveness, meeting the growing social and legal demands. It highlights the need for future research to deepen the understanding of environmental audits and their practical applicability in different organizational contexts, emphasizing the importance of incorporating environmental responsibility into the strategic vision of companies.