What is EMAS?

Page Last modified 20 Oct 2023

1 min read

This page was archived on 20 Oct 2023 with reason: Other (New version at https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/about/who-we-are/becoming-a-climate-neutral-agency)

EMAS — the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme, is a voluntary initiative encouraging companies and organisations to continuously improve their environmental performance. Its aim is to recognise and reward those organisations that go beyond minimum legal compliance and make continuous efforts to reduce their impact on the environment.

About us

Menu

Contact us: Write us, call us, or search our FAQs

Each year, the participating organisations must publish a public environmental statement, which not only evaluates their environmental performance against the previous year's performance targets, but also sets out new ones for the year ahead. It is this voluntary publication of environmental information that gives EMAS and the participating organisations enhanced credibility and recognition.

EMAS was established in 1995 by the EU. It was originally restricted to companies in industrial sectors, but since 2001, EMAS has been open to public and private organisations operating in all economic sectors throughout the European Union and the European Economic Area (EEA) — Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

More information on EMAS and how to register your organisation is available on the European Commission website.