Environmental auditing assesses a company's environmental performance and impact in order to help inform decision-making. Audits evaluate the nature and extent of environmental harm caused by a company's activities, wastes, or noise. Audits should be independent, objective, credible, transparent, regular and ongoing. Environmental auditing was developed in the 1970s in response to new environmental regulations and has since been used to assess compliance, issues of concern, sites, products, and management systems. Audits identify recommendations to improve practices and reduce environmental impact.