EMAS

EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) is an environmental management framework for all companies, regardless of size or sector, aimed at monitoring, documenting, and reducing their environmental impacts.

It was initially formed in 1995 to provide an effective environmental management framework for businesses in the industrial sector.

Today, EMAS requirements are specified in European Regulation (EC) 1221/2009 and encompass the ISO 14001 standard, with emphasis on self-auditing and publicly disclosing environmental performance through Environmental Statements.

EMAS is intended for all companies and organizations (private or public), within and outside the European Community, regardless of size or activity. It is best suited for businesses seeking to go beyond legal requirements, implement a comprehensive environmental management system, publicly report their environmental performance, and obtain a Certificate of Conformity from an Accredited Body.

The key steps in developing an EMAS environmental management system include:

• Identifying legal requirements relevant to the organization’s activities
• Reviewing existing environmental management processes and practices, and any historical incidents
• Establishing procedures aligned with the standard’s requirements
• Identifying the environmental aspects that the organization can control and influence
• Determining direct and indirect environmental aspects that have (or could have) significant environmental impacts
• Setting and reviewing environmental objectives and targets, and establishing programs to achieve them
• Defining additional procedures to ensure effective system implementation
• Training personnel
• Implementing the system
• Reviewing and adjusting the system if necessary
• Conducting an internal audit
• Drafting and publishing the Environmental Statement

Like ISO 14001, EMAS can be used as a standalone or integrated with other management systems the company has in place.

As with ISO 14001, difficulty depends on the complexity of processes, the nature of the organization’s activities, and how involved the company is during development. Proper staff training or assistance from a specialized consultant is recommended, and active participation of employees and top management is crucial for success.

The main difference from ISO 14001 is the requirement to compile and publicly disclose the Environmental Statement, covering the company’s significant environmental aspects, targets, and performance.

Several certification bodies in Greece are accredited by the Hellenic Accreditation System (ESYD) to issue relevant certificates, depending on a company’s activity.

Broadly speaking, the certification process involves reviewing the company’s compliance with environmental laws affecting its operations, assessing its management system, and verifying actual implementation. If it meets the requirements of Regulation (EC) 1221/2009, the Certification Body issues a Certificate. For significant deviations, corrective actions must be completed before the Certificate is issued; minor nonconformities must be resolved by the next assessment.

The Certificate is valid for three years, provided that the organization continues to meet the regulation’s requirements, which is typically confirmed with annual audits. For smaller companies, the certificate’s validity may be extended to four years, with an intermediary evaluation (two years in) required.

Key motivations for businesses seeking EMAS certification include:

• Complying with legislative requirements
• Self-evaluation of environmental performance
• Adapting to new trends and “unwritten rules” in environmental protection
• Contributing to the global effort to reduce environmental impact
• Developing an industrial policy to conserve resources and improve production processes
• Satisfying environmentally aware customers
• Increasing environmental awareness among staff, boosting recycling, and reducing unnecessary consumption

The timeframe for developing, implementing, and certifying EMAS depends on the complexity of business processes interacting with the environment, the number of sites, staff size, management commitment, and any needed infrastructure modifications. For small businesses already fulfilling legal requirements, it generally takes 2 to 6 months.