EMAS in the European Parliament: A quiet success story

Summary:

The European Union (EU) Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) is a voluntary management instrument for companies and other organisations wanting to evaluate, report and continuously improve their environmental performance. In order to register with EMAS, organisations must meet the requirements of the EU EMAS Regulation – (EC) No 1221/2009 – and the ISO 14001:2015 standards.

In 2007, as part of its commitment to making a long-term contribution to sustainable development, the European Parliament became one of the few EU institutions and the first parliament in the EU to obtain EMAS certification. Through its environmental management system it is able to track progress with regard to reducing carbon dioxide emissions and waste, promoting the efficient use of energy, water and paper, incorporating environmental guidelines into procurement procedures, and raising awareness of environmentally friendly behaviour among its staff and Members.

This document details the Parliament's progress to date in meeting its targets in all of the above-mentioned areas, and maps out its ambitions for the future.

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