EMAS Helpdesk 2024

More companies and organisations are striving to take responsibility and promote sustainable production and consumption models. This means they need to make their products and services more sustainable along the entire supply chain, use resources more efficiently and reduce their environmental and climate impact. The environmental management system EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) was developed by the European Commission to effectively support companies in this endeavor. The EMAS Helpdesk team raises public awareness of the content and dissemination of EMAS through various activities and answers complex questions about the environmental management system.

adelphi has been managing the EMAS Helpdesk on behalf of the European Commission's Directorate-General for the Environment since 2014 and is supported by four partners. This helpdesk is available to companies, public authorities, environmental groups, researchers, trade unions and the general public within and outside the EU and the European Economic Area. In addition, the helpdesk maintains contacts with relevant bodies in the member states, including competent authorities and accredited environmental verifiers. It collects information on all organisations in the EMAS register and compiles biannual statistics. The Helpdesk focuses on the promotion of EMAS through logistical and public relations activities, which include: organising events, formulating case studies and success stories, and publishing articles on the website and in a newsletter to inform the EMAS community about news and provide inspiration.

In 2023, the EMAS website was comprehensively revised and improved in terms of structure and content. The Helpdesk also supported the revision and republication of the EMAS User's Guide to make it easier for organisations to participate in the programme and increase registrations.

In 2024, the focus will be on expanding an EMAS social media strategy. Webinars will also be produced in which, among other things, the requirements for companies under the European Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and compatibility with EMAS will be discussed.