Frequently Asked Questions
Find clear, practical answers to your most pressing environmental management questions here.
What is ORDUM?
Ordum provides environmental management resources specifically designed for small and medium-sized enterprises. We offer downloadable templates, practical guides, and expert advice to help businesses navigate environmental compliance without the cost of hiring consultants.
What kind of templates do you offer?
We provide both free and premium templates including environmental policies, management plans, risk assessments, compliance checklists, waste management plans, and incident report forms. All templates are editable and jurisdiction-agnostic, so you can customize them for your specific business and location.
Are your templates really jurisdiction-agnostic? How does that work?
Yes. Our templates focus on best-practice environmental management principles that apply globally, with guidance on how to adapt them for your local regulatory requirements. We provide the framework and methodology – you add your specific regulatory context and operational details.
How much do templates cost?
We offer free templates (like our Environmental Policy Template) to help you get started. Premium templates and comprehensive bundles will be available for purchase shortly.
Do I need any special software to use your templates?
No. Our templates are provided as PDFs and Google Docs that can be opened and edited in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or most standard office software. No specialized programs required.
I’m just starting out with environmental management. Where should I begin?
Start with our free Environmental Policy Template and the accompanying guide “How to Write an Environmental Policy That Actually Works.” This gives you a foundation to build from. Then assess your key environmental aspects (energy, waste, water, emissions) and tackle them one at a time using our guides and templates.
What’s the difference between your free and paid templates?
Free templates cover foundational, single-topic needs like basic policies or simple response plans. Paid templates are comprehensive, interconnected systems that cover complex requirements – like a complete Environmental Management Plan with all supporting procedures, or industry-specific compliance bundles. Premium templates save you significant time on complex documentation.
Can you customize templates for my specific business?
Our templates are designed to be customized by you – that’s their strength. They include detailed instructions and examples to guide you through adapting them to your unique situation. We don’t currently offer custom consulting services, but our templates and guides are built to work for diverse industries and business sizes.
How do I know what environmental regulations apply to my business?
Check with your local environmental regulator first – most have online resources for SMEs. Our guides cover common regulatory triggers and requirements, and we’re building a compliance requirements checker tool to help identify likely obligations based on your industry and activities. Bookmark our Resources page for updates.
How often should I review my environmental policy and management system?
At minimum, annually. Also review whenever you make significant operational changes, experience an environmental incident, face new regulatory requirements, or achieve major milestones. Your policy should be a living document that evolves with your business, not something that sits unchanged for years.
Do you offer ongoing compliance support or consulting?
Currently, Ordum focuses on providing self-service resources – templates and guides that empower you to manage compliance yourself. This keeps costs low for SMEs. If you need hands-on consulting, we recommend finding a local environmental consultant who understands your specific regulatory context.
Will you keep me updated on regulatory changes?
We publish articles on significant regulatory developments and industry best practices through our Resources blog. For real-time regulatory updates specific to your jurisdiction and industry, we recommend subscribing to your local environmental regulator’s notification service.
Can I share templates with colleagues or across multiple sites?
Our templates are licensed for use within your business, including across multiple sites or departments. You can’t resell them or distribute them outside your organization, but internal sharing is fine. Each template purchase supports continued development of resources for SMEs.
What if I have questions while using a template?
Each template includes detailed guidance notes and examples. Our blog articles provide additional context and step-by-step instructions. For specific technical questions about environmental management (not template customization support), check our Resources page – we may have already addressed it in an article
I found an error or have suggestions for improving a template. How do I let you know?
We appreciate feedback! Email us at info@ordum.co with details. We continuously improve our templates based on user experience and regularly update them to reflect best practices and regulatory trends.