Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) implementation in the European Union: survey of Estonian certified organisations

Natalja Gurvitsh

doi:10.5755/j01.eis.0.11.17982

Abstract

Nowadays the EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) is considered as one of the most credible and effective environmnetal management tools, which adds valuable elements to an effective environmental management system. However, the number of EMAS registered companies in Estonia remains low, therefore the authors considered it useful to reveal the main reasons of this phenomenon and determine the main obstacles and benefits of EMAS implementation.The main aim of the research was to find out positive and negative aspects associated with the EMAS certification and implementation; the role of EMAS for the stakeholders and the added value derived from the EMAS implementation.The authors conducted interviews and distributed a questionnaire among the EMAS certified organisations in April-May 2015. The main findings of the research suggest that the most substantial value added by the EMAS system is the imporved reputation, credibility and transparency derived from the preparation and publication of environmental reports, which is a compulsory component of EMAS. Organisations also recognized an added value of EMAS by the imporved environmental performance. However, EMAS seemed to have less or no effect on other aspects such as risk management and employee motivation. Based on the results of the research it may be concluded that the value added to organisations by the implementation of EMAS was not significant.Even though implementation of EMAS brings along numerous positive impacts, it is also rconsidered as time, moneyand effort consuming. Authors believethat more initiatives from the state side are strongly required to promote EMAS implementation and to increase the public awareness of the EMAS system, its main benefits and added values.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.eis.0.11.17982

Highlights

Introduction and literature reviewNowadays the European Union (EU) is playing a leading role in international efforts to promote sustainable development and responsible environmental performance
In 2009, Vernon et al conducted surveys and interviews with the European Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) registered organisations, and the results revealed that the greatest obstacle related to the implementation of EMAS appeared to be the associated costs while the most frequently named financial benefits were reductions in energy use and more efficient usage of resources
The findings demonstrated different motivations of EMAS implementation: public sector organisations were mostly motivated by improved employee motivation and overall transparency while in case of the public sector organisation the main drivers were improved reputation for the organisation and requirements from the stakeholders’ side (Vernon et al, 2009)

Summary

Introduction

Introduction and literature reviewNowadays the European Union (EU) is playing a leading role in international efforts to promote sustainable development and responsible environmental performance. The growing importance of Corporate Social Responsibility in general and environmental performance of organisations in particular; as well as environmental policies and regulations introduced and enforced by the EU; made organisations to focus on the implementation of various environmental management systems. Arora & Cason (1996) concluded that public recognition is key to improving the success of voluntary environmental regulation. This is supported by the findings of Kagan et al (2003) which suggest that some companies may show better performance compliance than other due to the pressures from local communities and environmental activists as well as the corporate management style. It becomes evident that a „social licence to operate“ may be considered as an intangible asset of most companies and even industries; this asset, needs constant update and revaluation and according to Berger (2011) can be lost, which in turn couldbring serious negative consequences for the company

Objectives

Results

Conclusion