Factors of success

Performance - transparency - credibility

1. Workers' involvement

EXAMPLE:
Rise network – Belgium

Workers and trade union representatives have to play a significant role in EMAS and hope the EMS will lead to:

• Influence the quality and the pertinence of the environmental and social policy of the company
• Receive more information on a regular basis on aspects related to health, safety and environment
• Access to trainings, new functions and new responsibilities within the company
• Enlarge the work scope of shop stewards, the environmental manager and the workers council in general
• Develop new structures to foster the direct involvement of employees in the system (creation of a steering committee)
• Increase the transparency of the decisions taken by the top management and to better respect the trade union's prerogatives.
• Reward employee involvement

EXAMPLE:
Carled Gmbh – automotive supply chain – Germany

Personal responsibility and willingness of our staff and the recognition of those efforts and improvements by the top management with compensation awarding programmes are cornerstones of good management. Quality and environmental concerns have to improve the workplace and the eco-efficiency of production.

2. Use the experience of your employees

EXAMPLE:
Idee Aktion Umweltschutz Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe AG – public transport – Germany

The active participation of our employees in shaping the reality of our company is important for us, as they know the shop floor very well and come up with well-targeted improvements. Innovation, thinking and success on all levels is the leitmotiv of our Idea Management concept, which has led to numerous improvements ideas and proposals.

3. Dialogue and involve

EXAMPLE:
Ecover Products NV - personal hygiene - Belgium

Any measure related to dialogue with employees on the shop floor is very important for successful EMS implementation.

4. Invest in training and education

EXAMPLE:
Appor Limited - manufacturing - United Kingdom

The key to success, not only in the implementation of an EMS but also for businesses in general, is total employee involvement with a focus on training and information. Taking more time when implementing our EMS would have had the main advantage of allowing greater employee involvement in the early stages of implementation.

EXAMPLE:
Freudenthaler Entsorgung & Recycling GmbH & CO. KG - waste management - Austria

An EMS can only be successful if it is 'experienced' by the employees. Humans are the critical factor in the system. Employees at all levels must be aware of their responsibilities and play an active role. Accordingly, in the implementation phase, the first step is to convince and motivate the employees.

EXAMPLE:
Günther GmbH & Co. - fashion accessories - Germany

The process of implementing an EMS is highly dependent on the enthusiasm of individuals.

EXAMPLE:
Philippe Schiesser - Friends of the Earth – France

EMAS is a tool to support environmental information dialogue and exchange, transparency and democracy. It helps an organisation to put in practice the aims and obligations of the Aarhus Convention. NGOs, environmental journalists, citizens, and neighbours value validated data on

• Risks
• Hazardous substances
• Products (including impacts during the entire life cycle)
• Health indicators
• Environmental indicators
• Benchmarking
• Pedagogic explanations (on process and environment for nonprofessionals)

The communication should demonstrate to the pubic the organisation's exemplary behaviour.

EXAMPLE:
Darmstadt-Dieburg Werk – compost treatment – Germany

Our well-organised management of separate waste streams and their recycling in our region has lead, after some years, to reduce costs, improved services and lower waste fees for our citizens.

To demonstrate this exemplary model to external stakeholders we use EMAS. We show to the outside world how we assure our own responsibility for pro-active environmental protection.

EXAMPLE:
Grüneberg – waste management – Germany

A well-structured EMAS is a very precious tool for steering, managing and optimisation all levels and activities with environmental criteria. This is even more valid for cost accounting and risk assessment.

8. Link EMAS to normal business practise

EXAMPLE:
HBG Teichwolframsdorfer Agrar Gmbh – agriculture – Germany

The introduction of EMAS has changed our 'climate' in the company. Motivation of staff is perceptible and obvious. Our legal compliance and its constant surveillance improved management practice.

9. Modernising of horizontal management

EXAMPLE:
ASER - recycling of lead and zinc - Spain

Our EMAS registration has enabled us to integrate environmental protection in the global management of our company (manufacturing, maintenance, supply chain, laboratories, etc.). It has also improved the communication and collaboration between departments and our employees of the company.

10. Positive reaction from the market

EXAMPLE:
Hotel Virginia - hospitality - Greece

We participate and contribute with EMAS to solving the environmental problems of our country like water shortage and air pollution, waste, etc. Some of the tourist industry as well our guests positively support us and do excellent promotion for us.

11. EMAS brings competitive advantage

EXAMPLE:
PEGOP Pego Power plant - energy - Portugal

With EMAS our business image and our relationship with the local community and environmental awareness of staff have undoubtedly improved. In addition, the Environmental Management System (EMS) has helped us to organise and control our activities more efficiently, thus contributing towards business optimisation.

12. Integrate stakeholder concerns

EXAMPLE:
Barricalla of Collegno - landfill – Italy

As a landfill of hazardous waste we were very badly viewed by the local community. The publication of our EMAS environmental statement has notably improved our relationship with them.

13. Use and apply the sense of responsibility

EXAMPLE:
The European Christian Environment Network

Ecological consciousness and good will are often present in the churches. However, the ecological improvements undertaken are not satisfactory due to lack of information and of clarity as to who is responsible. Here is where the introduction of an environment management system can help.

The European Union and the International organisation for Standardization (ISO) have developed methods which have been tested in the production economy, and since then also in the area of services. Trials of these methods are just beginning in church organisations. In church and diaconal work, the sense of responsibility for the creation in daily life and the participation of employees and volunteers are central to these efforts.

14. Other factors contributing to success

The following are a summary of key factors expressed by the organisations above and EMAS experts involved in the work this Toolkit:

• Commitment of top management
• A home-grown, simple and appropriate approach:
  EMAS must fit with your company, and not the other way around!
• View environmental management as an opportunity and not a threat!
• Make sure that environmental goals are compatible with economic goals
• Take the time to do it properly!
• Experience with the general management system approach
• Open and honest communication about environmental issues