What are ISO14001 and EMAS?
ISO14001 is an internationally recognised standard that specifies the requirements of an environmental management system. It enables a company to identify where it has an impact on the environment and implement a plan to reduce that impact. The European Union’s Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) has a similar purpose to ISO14001 but goes beyond it in a number of ways. Most significantly, EMAS requires an organisation to publish details of their environmental management system and places more emphasis on reducing environmental impact. EMAS also has a logo that can be used on relevant publications, such as environmental reports. These environmental management systems do not automatically mean that the certified organisation is performing brilliantly. However, they do mean that the organisation is aware of how it impacts on the environment and is committed to the continuous improvement of aspects like energy efficiency, waste reduction and pollution control.
