EMAS certification. Beyond ISO 14001
The EMAS Certification (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) is a voluntary European regulation that allows organisations to assess, report and improve their environmental performance.
EMAS Certification: Exceeding ISO 14001 Standards
The European EMAS Regulation (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) defines an environmental management and audit scheme open to any type of organisation at an international level and regardless of its activity.
The environmental management system model of this Regulation is based on the ISO 14001 standard, and proposes an effective system to help organizations manage and continuously improve their environmental performance. However, EMAS contains its own requirements that make it a model of excellence for environmental management.
AENOR has been accredited by ENAC as an environmental verifier with accreditation number ES-V-0001 since 1996, and this accreditation has been updated for the latest amendment to the EMAS Regulation, in accordance with EU Regulation 2018/2026.
Benefits of the EMAS Regulation
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It requires the establishment of environmental performance indicators to analyse and measure the efficient use of resources, from a life cycle perspective, and risk-based thinking.
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It allows not only to ensure legal compliance, but also to anticipate the approval of new environmental requirements, which contributes to minimizing risks from a preventive approach and identifying new business opportunities.
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It requires the involvement of employees, making them aware of the importance of their participation in the management system. This approach has been characteristic of the EMAS Regulation since its inception.
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The Environmental Statement validated by an independent and accredited verifier is a powerful communication tool that helps the organization to value the effort derived from the implementation of an environmental management system. In addition, it is an exercise in transparency that is recognised by all stakeholders, including public administrations.
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It is a driver for innovation, since, by promoting continuous improvement, the organization has to investigate new objectives for reducing consumption, changes in processes, search for less polluting materials, etc.
Sectors and experience of the Certification
Sectoral Reference Documents (SRDs)
- Within the framework of Article 46 of the EMAS Regulation, the European Commission has promoted the preparation and publication of "sectoral reference documents" containing BEMP (best environmental management practices), environmental performance indicators and benchmarking of excellence specific to the sector.
- EMAS-registered organisations need to take these SRDs into account when developing and implementing their EMS, considering it as a source of information for continuous improvement of environmental performance.
- Currently, the sectors for which these DRS have been published are: Retail Trade, Tourism, Food and Beverage Production, Agriculture, Public Administration, Automobile Manufacturing, and Electrical and Electronic Equipment Manufacturing.
- For more information visit the page.
Integration with other systems
AENOR offers the possibility of carrying out, in a single and integrated process, an audit to obtain the Environmental Management Systems Certification in accordance with ISO 14001 and the EMAS Regulation.
In addition to being compatible with ISO 14001, EMAS is also compatible with other management systems, both environmental (Ecodesign, Energy Management), Quality (ISO 9001), and Occupational Health and Safety (ISO 45001). This achieves an optimization of the audit process and a reduction in time and costs, both in implementation and certification.
Our experience
In Spain, AENOR has been the first environmental verification body accredited by ENAC, the National Accreditation Entity, to carry out verifications and validations in accordance with the EMAS Regulation. AENOR is currently accredited by ENAC for all sectors of activity. AENOR, with more than 600 companies certified since 1995 in this scheme.
In addition, AENOR actively participates in forums and projects related to the EMAS Regulation, contributing its experience as an accredited verifier:
ENHANCE Project
The ENHANCE project "EMAS as a Nest to Help and Nurture the Circular Economy" aims to improve the implementation of regional policy instruments for the adoption of EMAS by organisations, by exchanging experiences and good practices related to the Regulation in the five participating countries. More information.
Project BRAVER
The BRAVER project "Boosting Regulatory Advantages Vis à vis Emas Registration" is a continuation of the BRAVER project, what BRAVER aims to achieve is to identify and develop efficient regulatory flexibility mechanisms, analyse whether they are applicable and evaluate their benefits. This will involve designing and establishing training and dissemination tools and activities to disseminate these good practices.
AENOR as a COLLABORATING ENTITY OF THE ADMINISTRATION in EMAS
AENOR, in addition to being an ENAC-accredited verifier, is authorised as a collaborating entity of some of the autonomous communities that have regulated EMAS verification activities, such as Valencia, Andalusia and Catalonia.
Documentation
- EMAS III: Consolidation of the European Environmental Management and Audit Scheme(4.52 Mb)
- Regulation (EC) No . 1221/2009(1,51 Mb)
- General Regulation for the Certification of Management Systems and their Conformity Marks(159 Mb)
- Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the voluntary participation of organisations in a Community Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS).( 159 Mb)
- Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/1505 of 28 August 2017 amending Annexes I, II and III to Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009.( 159 Mb)
- Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/2026 of 19 December 2018 amending Annex IV to Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009.(159 Mb)
- Commission Decision (EU) 2021/2053 of 8 November 2021 on the sectoral reference document on best environmental management practices, environmental performance indicators and benchmarks of excellence for the metal products manufacturing sector for the purposes of Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council
- Commission Decision (EU) 2021/2054 of 8 November 2021 on the sectoral reference document on best environmental management practices, environmental performance indicators and benchmarks of excellence for the telecommunications and information technology services sector communications (ICT) for the purposes of Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council
- Commission Decision (EU) 2023/2463 of 3 November 2023 on the publication of the User's Guide containing the steps required to participate in the EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council
- Commission Decision (EU) 2020/519 of 3 April 2020 on the sectoral reference document on best environmental management practices, sectoral environmental performance indicators and benchmarks of excellence for the waste management sector under Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 on the voluntary participation of organisations in a Community Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS)
- Sectoral Reference Document (Retail Trade)(159 Mb)
- Sector Reference Document (Tourism)(159 Mb)
- Industry Reference Document (Food & Beverage Manufacturing)(159 Mb)
- Sector Reference Document (Agriculture)(159 Mb)
- Sector reference document (General Government)(159 Mb)
- Industry Reference Document (Automobile Manufacturing)(159 Mb)
- Industry Reference Document (Manufacture of Electrical and Electronic Equipment)(159 Mb)
Latest developments in the EMAS regulation
Subsidies in Andalusia
Granting of marks and certificates
