Eco-Management and Audit System (EMAS)

EMAS is a European voluntary standard to allow companies to evaluate, report and improve their environmental performance.

The scheme was launched in 1995 and revised in 2001. Since 2001 this standard has been open to all corporate and public sectors within the European Union and the European Economic Area (EEA). The EMAS is a standard recognised throughout Europe.

To receive EMAS registration firms must complete the following:

1. An environmental review of all the company's practices and procedures, including legal and regulatory requirements.
2. Devise an environmental policy on the organisation's approach to environmental management.
3. Develop an action plan to tackle identified environmental issues.
4. Establish an effective Environmental Management System (EMS), which sets objectives, responsibilities, means, training procedures, monitoring and communication system.
5. Carry out an environmental audit to assess the EMS in place.
6. Produce a publicly available environmental statement highlighting the organisations environmental impacts and management.
7. Provide a written statement for the EMAS verifier, which explains the results achieved and objectives met along with future steps to take to continuously improve the firm's environmental performance.

Once all of the above has been successfully completed, the written statement and progress has been verified and the statement sent to the Competent Body, it has to be made publicly available. The organisation is then listed by the EMAS and has the right to use their logo. For further information on EMAS please visit www.emas.org.uk