Requirements for the Environmental Statement
The EMAS Environmental Statement, in accordance with Regulation 761/2001, is a public document that transparently reports on an organisation’s environmental performance. Its purpose is to inform stakeholders about environmental impacts, continuous improvement and regulatory compliance.
To meet the requirements of EMAS, we would like to highlight that the statement must include:
Introduction to the organisation and description of its activities.
This involves a clear and unambiguous description of the organisation’s EMAS registration and a summary of its activities, products and services covered by the EMAS verification.
Environmental policy and management system in place.
The organisation’s environmental policy and a brief description of its EMAS-verified environmental management system
Significant environmental aspects, both direct and indirect.
Significant environmental aspects, both direct and indirect. This involves a description of all significant direct and indirect environmental aspects that result in significant environmental impacts for the organisation, and an explanation of the nature of those impacts in relation to those aspects.
Environmental management programme, including objectives, targets and indicators.
Environmental management programme, including environmental objectives, targets and associated indicators. A description of the environmental objectives and targets in relation to significant environmental aspects and impacts.
Results and environmental performance
Environmental performance and results, expressed through annual comparative data and verifiable indicators. A summary of the available information on the organisation’s performance against its environmental objectives and targets in relation to its significant environmental impacts. The summary may include figures on pollutant emissions, waste generation, consumption of raw materials, energy and water, noise, as well as other aspects listed in Annex VI of the EMAS Regulation. The data must allow for a year-on-year comparison to assess the evolution of the organisation’s environmental performance.
Level of compliance with environmental requirements.
Level of compliance with environmental legislation and relevant licences. Other factors relating to environmental performance, such as compliance with legal provisions regarding environmental impacts.
Name and accreditation number of the environmental verifier.
The name and accreditation number of the environmental verifier, together with the date of validation.
We are your best partner for drafting the Environmental Statement
We are your best partner for drafting and maintaining the EMAS Environmental Statement because we specialize in environmental management systems and EMAS verification, with more than 25 years of experience helping companies from all sectors achieve environmental excellence.
Our team supports you throughout the entire process of drafting, validating and updating the Environmental Statement, ensuring compliance with EMAS Regulation 1221/2009. Our service includes:
- Comprehensive advice to comply with the requirements of the EMAS Regulation.
- Collection and analysis of relevant environmental data related to environmental performance.
- Professional drafting of the Environmental Statement, including environmental indicators and interpretation of results.
- Coordination with the accredited environmental verifier to carry out the EMAS audit and the verification of the Statement by the verifier.
- Maintenance of the EMAS certificate, taking on the role of System Manager through our ISO outsourcing service.
In addition, we integrate the EMAS Environmental Statement with other management systems, such as ISO 14001 for environmental management, ISO 45001 for occupational health and safety, and ISO 9001 for quality management, creating a coherent and efficient approach.
With EmasConsultors, your company not only complies with the regulations, but also strengthens its corporate reputation, transparency and commitment to sustainability, turning the Environmental Statement into a powerful communication and continual improvement tool.
FAQs: EMAS Statement
What is the relationship between EMAS and CSR?
The EMAS environmental certificate and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) are closely linked, as both share the same objective: to integrate sustainability and transparency into business management.
Whilst CSR encompasses social, economic, ethical and environmental commitments, the EMAS system focuses on environmental excellence, ensuring that companies manage, measure and communicate their environmental impact in a verifiable manner.
The EMAS Environmental Statement is a communication tool that reinforces CSR policy, as it requires the public disclosure of environmental results, validated by an independent verifier, thereby enhancing credibility and trust among customers, suppliers and stakeholders.
What are the benefits of EMAS?
The EMAS Regulation (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) promotes the continual improvement of organizations’ environmental performance through a systematic and verifiable approach. Its objective is to ensure efficient, transparent environmental management focused on sustainability and contributing to the circular economy.
To achieve this, EMAS requires organizations to:
- Establish environmental performance indicators to analyse and measure the efficient use of resources.
- Ensure legal compliance and anticipate the approval of new environmental requirements.
- Involve employees, making them aware of the importance of their participation in the management system.
- Drive innovation by promoting continual improvement, encouraging the organization to define new objectives for reducing consumption, improving processes and seeking less polluting materials.
Adopting the EMAS system enables organizations to demonstrate their real commitment to the environment, improve their efficiency and strengthen their image as responsible and sustainable entities.
What are the benefits of the EMAS Statement?
As a public document, the Environmental Statement helps to contribute to the development of a circular economy, since the EMAS system:
- Requires the establishment of environmental performance indicators to analyse and measure the efficient use of resources.
- Ensures legal compliance and anticipates the introduction of new environmental requirements.
- Requires employee involvement, making them aware of the importance of their participation in the management system.
- Acts as a driver for innovation, as, by promoting continuous improvement, the organisation that has adopted it must investigate new consumption reduction targets, process changes and the search for less polluting materials.
Which CSR standards are linked to EMAS?
The EMAS certificate can be easily integrated with other international Social Responsibility and Sustainability standards, such as:
- EcoVadis and SMETA: They assess sustainability, ethics and corporate social responsibility.
- IQNet SR10 and SGE 21: Certifiable systems for managing CSR within the company.
- SA8000: Focused on fair working conditions and human rights.
- GRI Standards: An international framework for preparing sustainability reports.
EMAS integrates these standards to strengthen transparency, sustainability and continual improvement.