- Who can participate in EMAS?
- How much does it cost to implement EMAS?
- What are the main changes from EMAS I to EMAS II?
- Can a site registered on the basis of EMAS I requirements use the logo introduced in EMAS II?
- If a company already has an EMS, does it still have to go through each stage of EMAS?
- What is the most time-consuming step in implementing EMAS?
- How many days a week does it take to maintain EMAS working properly?
- If an already EMAS-registered company has a case of non-compliance with legislation, will it be deregistered?
- What is the difference between EMAS and the EU Eco-label?
- Can you get public financial help to go for EMAS?
1. Who can participate in EMAS?
Participation in EMAS is open to all companies and all other organisations of the private and public sector which are dedicated to improving their overall environmental performance and which are located in the European Union Member States and the other countries of the European Economic Area (EEA) — Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
All sectors of economic activity
Organisations participating in EMAS come from all sectors, be it industrial or primary production, the service sector, the public sector or non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Public authorities and institutions
An important aspect of the new EMAS regulation is the ability for public authorities and institutions to participate in the scheme. A number of local authorities across the European Union have already taken up the plan.
Small and medium-sized enterprises
Special emphasis is placed on encouraging SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises with less than 250 employees) to participate in the scheme. SME-specific support by the Member States and on the EU level should be achieved by facilitating access to information, to existing support funds and to public institutions and by promoting technical assistance measures. In addition some deviations from the EMAS requirements to avoid administrative burden are allowed and a reasonable registration fee is to encourage higher participation in the scheme.
The service sector
Even though service providers do not produce tangible goods, the provision of services can be connected with the consumption of large amounts of electricity, heating energy, water, office material such as paper etc. This clearly leaves much space for measures which reduce both the environmental impact and the operational costs of a service provider. Experience has shown that within the service sector, in particular the tourism industry has shown interest in EMAS. This is self-explanatory considering the fact that the service and product of a hotel or a travel agent is very often closely linked to nature and a clean environment.
The financial sector
In the past, environmental issues were regarded as hardly relevant to the sector of financial services. This perception has fundamentally changed. The management of environmental problems presents a challenge to all kinds of financial institutions: investment banks, credit banks, insurance companies, pension funds and mutual funds, rating agencies, etc. In addition to the environmental impact of housekeeping activities, these institutions need in particular to consider the indirect impacts of their activities.
2. How much does it cost to implement EMAS?
The cost depends on the size of the company and on its activities. Experience in northern European countries shows that there is no standard rule. Costs depend on the local market, government programmes and the level of external environmental costs and services. Financial resources spent on setting up an EMS including external consulting fees and associated communication and certification costs are on an average (figures do not include public aid):
€10, 000 for very small companies (< 10 employees)
€20, 000 for small companies (< 50 employees)
€35, 000 for medium-sized companies (50 <250 employees)
€50, 000 for big companies (> 250 employees)
In most Member States SMEs can benefit from public subsidies of up to 75 % of the external consultant costs. Information about finanical support and other support is given in Further assistance.
3. What are the main changes from EMAS I to EMAS II?
Article 20 of the 'old' EMAS Regulation (Council Regulation (EEC) No 1836/93 of 29 June 1993) called upon the European Commission to review the EMAS scheme no more than five years after its entry into force. In the light of the experience gained during the operation of EMAS, the Commission was expected to propose to the Council appropriate amendments, particularly concerning the scope of the scheme and the possible introduction of a logo.
In March 2001, the Council and the European Parliament adopted the revised EMAS Regulation which strengthens and extends the scope of the scheme. The revision included:
- the extension of the scope of EMAS to all sectors of economic activity including local authorities
- the integration of ISO 14001 as the environmental management system required by EMAS, so that progressing from ISO 14001 to EMAS will be smoother and not entail duplication;
- the adoption of a visible and recognisable EMAS logo to allow registered organisations to publicise their participation in EMAS more effectively
- the involvement of employees in the implementation of EMAS
- the strengthening of the role of the environmental statement to improve the transparency of communication of environmental performance between registered organisations and their stakeholders and the public
- and a more thorough consideration of indirect effects including capital investments, administrative and planning decisions, procurement procedures, choice and composition of services (e.g., catering)
4. Can a site registered on the basis of EMAS I requirements use the logo introduced in EMAS II?
Yes. Article 8 states that organisations may use the EMAS logo if they have a valid EMAS registration. In the meantime, Article 17.4 makes it clear that sites, registered under EMAS I, remain on the register when the new EMAS Regulation enters into force and will catch up with EMAS II requirements.
5. If a company already has an EMS, does it still have to go through each stage of EMAS?
The existing EMS and environmental review must conform to the requirements of EMAS. In some cases this will simply mean undertaking a gap analysis of the differences and dealing with any shortcomings identified. In other cases the site may have to repeat stages of EMAS or substantially change its existing system to be able to successfully register to EMAS.
6. What is the most time-consuming step in implementing EMAS?
Experience shows that the initial environmental review and the thorough evaluation of management practices are the most time consuming steps.
These are followed by:
- Gathering legal, technical and environmental data
- Establishing the environmental action plan
- Writing procedures and instructions
- Training of employees
- Internal and external communication
Some Member States have analysed this in detail and your competent body may be aware of country-specific evaluation.
7. How many days a week does it take to keep EMAS working properly?
It usually requires one day a week on average and remains the same after the registration as well for both small and big organisations alike.
This evaluation is based on a survey of 125 Belgian companies in the year 2000.
8. If an already EMAS-registered company has a case of non-compliance with legislation, will it be deregistered?
This will depend on three factors:
- the scale of non-compliance
- if non-compliance is detected and results in legal action
- the location of the site
There are no published cases where a site has been deregistered for non-compliance with environmental legislation, but there have been cases where companies did not obtain registration to EMAS because of legislative non-compliance. If a company has an incidence of non-compliance and the relevant authorities are informed and have accepted this, for example by way of a remediation order with a transitional period, or with some form of documented or written approval, then there should be no basis for deregistration.
Serveral countries have their own way of regulating such situations. A dialogue between the administration, the verfiers and the organisation should help most cases of environmental breaches to find a solution.
9. What is the difference between EMAS and the European Eco-label?
The key differences are presented below.
Visit the EU Eco-label website
10. Can you get public financial help to go for EMAS?
Yes, most Member States provide financial support mechanisms for SMEs. This help can be direct (75 % financing) or indirect (free accompanying measures). The competent body of your country can be contacted to get further information concerning financial assistance.
More information can be found in Financing programmes for SMEs.
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