The European Union's Eco-Management and Audit Scheme, or EMAS, has been in existence since 1995, with over 3,000 sites registered to the Scheme. However, even to the present day, there exist very few texts which address the specific requirements of the standard and provide "real world" examples of the practical considerations companies and sites must contend with in order to successfully earn registration to the Scheme. No author has synthesized the controversies, debates, developments and amendments which have surrounded and impacted this often controversial Scheme, until now.This text definitively breaks down each component of the EMAS regulation, including the appendices and applicable EU guidance documents on the topic, providing a step-by-step analysis of the Scheme. In addition, the work provides examples of three of Akzo Nobel Incorporated's manufacturing locations which have been registered to EMAS, providing examples of how to meet the requirements of the Scheme.The target audience is threefold: first, environmental managers who are considering implementing EMAS in their firms, but who have little knowledge of the Scheme, will find the work highly useful. Secondly, university students, professors and programs who study environmental auditing as part of their coursework, and who are seeking a solid overview of the program may employ the text. Finally, verifiers in the countries which are recent additions to the EU may use the work to familiarize themselves with the requirements of the Scheme.

A comprehensive guide for all businesses seeking ISO 14000, 14001 and EMAS qualifications An accessible, practical handbook for corporate executives and project managers on how to establish and maintain an effective environmental management system (EMS), including both ISO 14001 and the European Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS). It draws on the authors' extensive hands-on experience in both implementing environmental management systems and training others to do so. Set out in a straightforward series of steps, the guide is concise and full of helpful examples and insider tips, it will be the standard manual for managers and consultants.

This book tackles a largely neglected topic: small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and their environmental impact. Over 90% of all firms are SMEs. Their importance to the health of national and international economies is recognized. But what of their environmental impact? Individually, this may be small but, collectively, they pose a huge and largely unregulated threat to national and indeed the global environment. There have been many failed attempts to engage SMEs in environmental stewardship. Why is this? And where are the success stories needed to set best-practice examples? Environmental protection is widely touted as being a win-win scenario for business with economic spin-offs in terms of energy and waste reduction quickly producing payback for capital expenditures. Why is the "good environmental management equals good business management" message not getting through? In Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and the Environment Dr Ruth Hillary brings together an outstanding international collection of experts from government, international and national support agencies, academics and the business community to present arguments about the key environmental business imperatives facing the small-firm sector. The book is divided into four sections:Attitudes and Perceptions of Small Firms to the Environment and SustainabilityEnvironmental Management in the Smaller FirmPractical Strategies for Reaching SMEsCase Studies from around the World. In these sections, the book examines the threats – such as trade, supply chain issues and legislative compliance – but is also solution-oriented, with considerable discussion of the management tools smaller firms can use to improve their environmental performance. It aims to provide practical strategies for smaller firms and to that end includes a range of informative case studies from around the world. Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and the Environment is the most comprehensive book on the subject available and will prove invaluable not only to SMEs themselves, seeking to understand a rapidly changing world, but to consultants and small-business advisors, local and central government and to all those in academia looking for ways to improve the environmental performance of small businesses.

In 1992, the European Commission published details of its Eco-Management and Audit Scheme. The author of this report, Ruth Hillary, was directly involved in the development of the scheme, making her particularly well placed to analyze its practicalities and business implications. This report represents a detailed analysis of the scheme and its requirements. Contents include: * the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme explained, * preparing for and putting the Scheme in place, * registration of the Scheme, * links with national, European, and international standards (including BS 7750), * benefits and pitfalls of the Scheme, * case studies, * the future, and * appendices on questions and answers, sources of information, and industrial activities covered.

The European Commission's initiative called EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) was established to improve the quality of environmental management throughout European industry. The text is a guide the scheme.