What is EMAS?

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EMAS, i.e. Eco-Management and Audit Scheme, is a voluntary environmental management and audit system of the European Union, which is designed to improve the level of environmental protection and environmental efficiency of organizations. The EMAS system was established in 1993, and its goal is to help organizations reduce their environmental impact, improve the level of environmental protection and increase transparency in environmental matters.

What is the purpose of the EMAS system?

The main goal of the EMAS system is to promote sustainable development and environmental protection. This is achieved by providing organizations with tools and methods that enable them to:

  • Improves the level of environmental protection
  • Efficient use of resources
  • Reduces environmental impact
  • Increase transparency and communication in environmental matters

Key elements of the EMAS system

The EMAS system consists of several key elements that help organizations achieve their environmental goals:

  1. Environmental policy: The organization must define an environmental policy that includes a commitment to continuous improvement and raising the level of environmental protection.
  2. Environmental program: The environmental program contains concrete goals and measures to implement environmental policy.
  3. Environmental system: The organization must develop and maintain an environmental system that covers all environmental impacts and risks.
  4. Audit: Regular internal and external audits ensure that the environmental system works effectively and that the environmental goals are achieved.
  5. Environmental reporting: The organization must regularly publish an environmental report that contains information on environmental impacts, achieved results and future goals.

The benefits of the EMAS system

The implementation of the EMAS system offers organizations many advantages:

  • Improved environmental protection: EMAS helps organizations reduce their environmental impact and improve the level of environmental protection.
  • Efficient use of resources: The EMAS system helps organizations use resources more efficiently, which can lead to cost savings.
  • Increased transparency: Regular environmental reporting increases the transparency of the organization and improves the trust of stakeholders.
  • Competitive advantages: EMAS certification can improve the organization’s reputation and competitiveness on the market.

Implementation of the EMAS system

The implementation of the EMAS system is voluntary, but it requires the organization to commit to continuous improvement and raising the level of environmental protection. The process starts with defining an environmental policy and drawing up an environmental program, after which the organization must develop and maintain an environmental system. Regular audits and environmental reporting ensure that the system works efficiently and that environmental goals are achieved.

More information about the EMAS system can be found on the European Commission’s website: European Commission’s EMAS website .

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