The European Commission is setting an example to other European organisations. By having four of its departments registered under the Eco Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS), the Commission has proven it has made its daily activities more environmentally friendly in a systematic fashion. Environmental and financial benefits have already been achieved.
“By opting for EMAS to cover four pilot departments in seven main buildings that house 3,500 employees, we’ve managed to focus on ten significant areas where environmental protection was clearly at stake,” says Jorge Díaz del Castillo, the EMAS officer at the Environment Directorate-General.
“The most important benefit from the pilot phase is that we managed to kick-start environmental thinking at all levels, thus prompting innovation and staff involvement. At the end of the day, EMAS is a way of living – it educates us all on how to preserve the environment even after we switch off the office lights and return home. It all boils down to our commitment to a better future in a healthier environment for us and our little ones,” concludes Jorge Díaz del Castillo.
Setting an example
EMAS used to be a voluntary scheme designed for private companies but in 2001 the EMAS regulation was revised, extending its scope to public organisations. Simultaneously, the European Commission, which plays an important role in issuing European legislation, decided to practise what it preached and provided the necessary support to start an EMAS application.
Jorge Díaz del Castillo explains: “The aim was clear from the outset – not only should we set an example, we should also encourage environmentally responsible management in our own headquarters. Public authorities are ultimately responsible for the well-being of the people they serve. EMAS can help authorities to make the right decisions by taking better account of all considerations, including the environment.”
He continues: “Our positive results are achieved simply because EMAS is based on three solid cornerstones. The first one is related to high performance. It provides for full compliance with environmental and health and safety legislation and ensures that the management system works to meet annual objectives and targets. Second, transparency is accomplished through the publishing of our environmental statement designed for the general public. This shows how we are doing every year. Finally, we use DNV as an external and independent verifier to support our credibility,” says Jorge Díaz del Castillo.
Staff contribution
Jorge Díaz del Castillo can provide a long list of success stories in areas where the staff have contributed. For example, the energy consumption in the seven pilot buildings is decreasing, resulting in CO2 emissions dropping by 4% between 2003 and 2004. Water consumption also shows a slight downward trend.
The introduction of duplex printing as a default setting on the printers and efforts by staff to reduce printing have resulted in a 12% reduction in paper sheets in one year. The office paper used is also fully recycled and chlorine-free.
Green procurement practices have ensured that 80% of their 700 stationery articles are recyclable. Environmental criteria are included in calls for tenders for ICT equipment and environmental specifications are stipulated in the contracts for 14 canteens and 34 cafeterias.
A survey shows that the use of private cars to commute to work decreased from 50% in 1998 to 44% in 2004, while the use of public transport rose from 32% to 38%. Also, thanks to the promotion of video conferences, the number of business trips has been significantly reduced.
While the volume of waste generated has increased slightly - by 1.3% - along with the rising number of staff, recycling has been maximised and disposal optimised accordingly. For example, the share of non-separated waste was reduced from 51% in 2003 to 46% in 2004.
“Aside from these environmental gains, EMAS has brought in important financial savings. For example, in 2004 approximately 500,000 was saved on toner and paper alone, emphasises Jorge Díaz del Castillo.
A five-step approach
“My personal advice to other organisations wanting to start EMAS is to practise the ‘low hanging fruit approach’. This means that you should focus on tasks in which staff involvement reveals crucial and quick gains that become visible to all those involved straight away. Don’t start out thinking you can solve everything at once. Seek top management support at an early stage and work gradually in the tempo you feel the organisation can manage. Finally, show everyone that an EMAS implementation is not something one has to look upon as additional work. It’s just a matter of doing simple things in a better way,” concludes Jorge Díaz del Castillo.