diff --git a/basyx/aas/adapter/json/json_serialization.py b/basyx/aas/adapter/json/json_serialization.py
index 7b8aec24e..dbd4a813b 100644
--- a/basyx/aas/adapter/json/json_serialization.py
+++ b/basyx/aas/adapter/json/json_serialization.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ def object_store_to_json(data: model.AbstractObjectStore, **kwargs) -> str:
                  the AAS meta model which should be serialized to a JSON file
     :param kwargs: Additional keyword arguments to be passed to :func:`json.dumps`
     """
-    environment = data.get_environment()
+    environment = data.as_environment()
     # Serialize to a JSON-able mapping
     jsonable = jsonization.to_jsonable(environment)
 
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ def write_aas_json_file(file: IO, data: model.AbstractObjectStore, **kwargs) ->
                  the AAS meta model which should be serialized to a JSON file
     :param kwargs: Additional keyword arguments to be passed to `json.dump()`
     """
-    environment = data.get_environment()
+    environment = data.as_environment()
     # Serialize to a JSON-able mapping
     jsonable = jsonization.to_jsonable(environment)
 
diff --git a/basyx/aas/adapter/xml/xml_serialization.py b/basyx/aas/adapter/xml/xml_serialization.py
index de82c62d0..636ac7003 100644
--- a/basyx/aas/adapter/xml/xml_serialization.py
+++ b/basyx/aas/adapter/xml/xml_serialization.py
@@ -33,4 +33,4 @@ def write_aas_xml_file(file: IO,
                  the AAS meta model which should be serialized to an XML file
     """
 
-    file.write(xmlization.to_str(data.get_environment()))
+    file.write(xmlization.to_str(data.as_environment()))
diff --git a/basyx/aas/backend/couchdb.py b/basyx/aas/backend/couchdb.py
index 9eb5ec54f..488905172 100644
--- a/basyx/aas/backend/couchdb.py
+++ b/basyx/aas/backend/couchdb.py
@@ -347,7 +347,7 @@ def add(self, x: model.Identifiable) -> None:
         """
         logger.debug("Adding object %s to CouchDB database ...", repr(x))
         # Serialize data
-        data = jsonization.to_jsonable(self.get_environment())
+        data = jsonization.to_jsonable(self.as_environment())
 
         # Create and issue HTTP request (raises HTTPError on status != 200)
 
diff --git a/basyx/aas/model/provider.py b/basyx/aas/model/provider.py
index 975c417eb..600fb8220 100644
--- a/basyx/aas/model/provider.py
+++ b/basyx/aas/model/provider.py
@@ -79,7 +79,8 @@ def update(self, other: Iterable[_IT]) -> None:
         for x in other:
             self.add(x)
 
-    def get_environment(self) -> Environment:
+    @abc.abstractmethod
+    def as_environment(self) -> Environment:
         pass
 
 
@@ -97,7 +98,7 @@ def __init__(self, objects: Iterable[_IT] = ()) -> None:
     def get_identifiable(self, identifier: Identifier) -> _IT:
         return self._backend[identifier]
 
-    def get_environment(self) -> Environment:
+    def as_environment(self) -> Environment:
         asset_administration_shells: List[AssetAdministrationShell] = []
         submodels: List[Submodel] = []
         concept_descriptions: List[ConceptDescription] = []