Author(s)

R. Brandtweiner & A. Hoeltl

Abstract

Enterprises are confronted more and more with environmental issues of increasing complexity, environmental regulation and public pressure which they have to manage in a new way. An environmental management system is an appropriate instrument which may be certified and accepted internationally and offers answers to the new challenges in a cost efficient manner. Environmental management systems are assigned to the \“third” way of environmental policy instruments. The main feature is the voluntary participation of enterprises to such measures. There are many advantages in participating in an international systematic certified system like EMAS in Europe. Participation is voluntary, but the organisation must meet minimum standards to be EMAS registered. Due to the fact that environmental management systems can make an important contribution to a sustainable economic development as well as to reach the Kyoto targets, the European Union should enforce the promotion of EMAS registration especially concerning small and medium-sized enterprises. Keywords: environmental management system, state of the art, EMAS, environmental policy instruments, voluntary measures, environmental performance, SMEs. 1 Introduction Environmental regulation measures and the public sensitivity concerning environmental issues constitute growing challenges for the business world. An important tool for taking on these challenges is the implementation of an environmental management system (EMS) in the organisation. Thereby the organisation is on the one hand able to demonstrate its willingness for an improved environmental performance to the public and to the

Keywords

environmental management system, state of the art, EMAS, environmental policy instruments, voluntary measures, environmental performance, SMEs.