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To protect the environment the state imposes laws, ordinances and requirements. The aim of a company's environmental management system (EMS) is to ensure that these, at the least, are complied with and to guarantee the ecofriendliness of production methods, processes and the conduct of suppliers and staff. An EMS is designed to pinpoint weaknesses and constantly improve workflows and procedures.

Environmental certificates such as the EMAS regulation or the DIN EN ISO 14001 standard do not just mean paperwork; they force companies to deal with environmental issues and continuously improve. If all the guidelines are complied with, a certificate is issued. On one hand this confirms that the company has done everything properly, on the other hand it shows customers and the public that everyone on board is concerned about environmental matters.

Environmentalism: the key to success

Corporate environmentalism is not just a matter for do-gooders or a question of social responsibility: it can, in fact, also pay out in real figures and play a role in a company's success.

• If legal stipulations are not met this can result in high fines.

• If an accident occurs, e.g. if poisonous or harmful substances are released, local residents or staff can be seriously harmed. Avoiding this is not just a question of a duty of care; if the worst comes to the worst, the company may also have to pay a high price for liability and remediation – not to mention lost output.

• When a company hits the headlines for an environmental scandal it is a heavy blow to their image and can have a powerful effect on turnover, for example if there is a public call to boycott the company.

• Conversely, introducing an EMS and environmental certification can provide a competitive advantage: many companies now only work with suppliers who guarantee that specific ecological standards are met. And companies working in an ecofriendly manner are increasingly earning plus points from consumers – as shown, for instance, by the organic boom.

• Banks and insurance companies, too, place great value on companies getting environmental certification, as it reduces the risk of damage claims: no damage, no payout.

• Last but not least, the cost of production and processes can be cut if fewer resources and less energy are required and there are fewer waste products, effluents and toxins needing complicated disposal.

• Moreover, raw materials are in short supply and will increase in price over the next few decades.

Corporate environmental management is thus not only about reacting to legal stipulations but also about looking ahead and taking precautions. Environmentalism is a question of quality assurance and being equipped for the future.

Certification

The most well-known and widespread certification schemes are the European EMAS regulation and the internationally recognised DIN EN ISO 14001 standard.

The international EMS standard ISO 14001 is one of a whole group of standards. It stipulates that a company must introduce, implement and continually improve an EMS, keeping records of the whole process. In operational practice there needs to be a guarantee that current legal regulations are monitored and fulfilled. What is more, the company needs to set out measurable environmental goals and ensure that these can be achieved – e.g. by training staff or improving workflows. The management is required to name a special environmental officer responsible for introducing and implementing all ISO 14001 requirements. Relevant information is collected and evaluated in internal audits. External accredited certification bodies then check whether all the requirements in the standard have been complied with, and issue a certificate to that effect.

This means that the certificate does not show how ecofriendly a company actually is – after all, they may set themselves goals with differing degrees of ambition. Polluters can promise to damage the environment slightly less than before, or model ecofriendly companies can commit to improving even further.

EMAS (the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) was developed by the EU in 1993. Since 2001 it has been structured and organised in accordance with ISO 14001. Yet EMAS is more than just a management system: companies are required to publish a public declaration explaining their environmental activities and data. Here, too, the documents are evaluated by an external, state-approved assessor. If all the requirements have been fulfilled a certificate is issued. This audit must be carried out at least every three years.