Tools

Environmental Management System (EMS)

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Project phase and/or activity

• Improving environmental performance with more efficient use of natural resources
• Improving the public image of the business
• Issues relating to people and the environment are incorporated into their concept of quality

Green Value indicator

According to the European Parliament, by 2019 the EMAS system achieved the following:

• Reducing carbon dioxide emissions :38%
• Reduction of electricity consumption: 16%
• Reduction in gas consumption: 23%
• Increase in renewable energy production: 15%
• Reduced paper consumption: 44%
• Reduction of food waste: 22%
• Increase in waste recycling: 67%

Explanation

The Environmental Management System (EMS) is the part of an organisation’s overall management system that includes the necessary environmental structure, activities, process, roles and responsibilities, appropriate practices, processes and resources to address the environmental impact of its service products or functions.
EMS is a marketing strategy that can attract many target groups and stakeholders. The most well-known environmental management systems are:

• ISO14001 – International Standard.
• EMAS – Eco-Management and Audit Scheme.

In order to be able to obtain accreditation from EMAS, a company or organisation has to comply with certain requirements:

• First, it must carry out an audit of the environmental activities, methods, products and services it uses in order to assess whether they follow the current legal framework.
• Then, EMAS imposes the establishment of an environmental policy aimed at improving its environmental performance.
• Based on the results, each company/organisation should establish an EMS that defines responsibilities, objectives, instruments, operational procedures, training needs and monitoring and communication systems.
• An environmental audit is carried out: Audit procedure by an EMAS inspector
• Certification of the organisation/company

PROS/CONS of the action

Pros:

• Energy saving
• Reducing water consumption
• Reducing raw material and product management costs
• Use of “recycle and reuse” programmes
• Improvement of environmental performance
• Enhancement of compliance
• Prevention of pollution and preservation of resources
• Reduction / mitigation of risks
• Attraction to new customers and markets (or at least retained access to customers and markets with EMS requirements)
• Increased efficiency/reduced costs
• Enhanced employee morale (including the possibility of enhanced recruitment of new employees)
• Enhanced image with public, regulators, lenders, investors
• Achieved/improved employee awareness of environmental issues and responsibilities

Cons:

• It is optional for companies and organisations
• Some organisations (notably national and local governments) can face political and/or administrative barriers in effectively implementing the needs of and commitments to an EMS
• One disadvantage of an EMS is that, by definition, systems suit larger organisations; the larger the organisation, the more likely it has already developed a similar systematic approach to management processes. A common approach used by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to facilitate the implementation of an EMS is joint EMS implementation and group certification.

Certified

This action is Certified by the European Union

Link to useful sources

Reducing our ecological footprint

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Further resources:
EMAS

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Environmental Management System