EMAS certification: what it is, differences with ISO 14001 and how to obtain it

EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) is the European Union's voluntary environmental management and audit scheme. It recognises organisations that put in place a rigorous environmental management system, comply with environmental legislation and publish an independently verified environmental statement. Together with ISO 14001, it is one of the reference tools for managing and demonstrating a company's environmental performance.

EMAS is governed by Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009, published in December 2009 and in force since January 2010, known as EMAS III. It has since been updated by Regulation (EU) 2017/1505 (which revised Annexes I, II and III to align them with ISO 14001:2015) and Regulation (EU) 2018/2026 (which updated Annex IV on the environmental statement). It is voluntary and applies to organisations of any sector and size, public or private.

EMAS vs ISO 14001: key differences

EMAS builds on the ISO 14001 standard: in fact, its environmental management system requirements are those of ISO 14001. The difference is that EMAS goes a step further and adds requirements on legal compliance, transparency and participation. This table summarises the key differences:

In short, EMAS requires a more thorough environmental review, verification of legal compliance, regular audits, employee participation and, above all, a public environmental statement validated by an accredited environmental verifier, which is then submitted to the competent authority for registration.

Benefits of EMAS certification for your company

Beyond the benefits inherent to an environmental management system, EMAS brings additional advantages:

• Verified legal compliance: EMAS checks compliance with environmental legislation, which reduces the risk of penalties.
• Competitive advantage and reputation: it distinguishes the organisation as a sustainability leader before clients, public authorities and investors.
• Efficiency and savings: identifying environmental aspects often reveals opportunities to save energy, water and raw materials.
• Employee engagement: EMAS encourages staff participation in environmental management.
• Transparency: the public, validated environmental statement builds trust among stakeholders.
• Continual improvement: the review and audit cycle drives innovation and constant progress.

How to implement EMAS in your company step by step

Implementing EMAS combines setting up the management system with the specific requirements of the regulation. In simplified terms, these are the phases:

Phase 1: senior management commitment

The starting point is a firm commitment from management, which must translate into a formal declaration that places environmental management as a priority. EMAS is not a superficial formality: it has to be integrated into the organisation's culture and operations.

Phase 2: initial environmental review

The initial environmental review should include:

• Verification of legal compliance: analyse the degree of compliance with current environmental legislation.
• Identification of environmental aspects: determine the environmental impacts of the company's activities.
• Documentation of existing practices: capture the environmental practices already in place.
• Risk and emergency analysis: identify environmental risks and potential emergencies and their response measures.
• Evaluation of past incidents: review past incidents and the corrective measures taken.
• Analysis of the existing management system: assess whether the current system can be adapted to EMAS or whether a new one is needed.

Phase 3: defining the environmental policy

The company must define its environmental policy, a public document that states its commitments in environmental management and that includes clear, measurable objectives, the commitment to legal compliance and an action plan to achieve them.

Phase 4: implementation, audit and environmental statement

With the policy defined, the management system is implemented, internal environmental audits are carried out and the environmental statement is prepared. An accredited environmental verifier validates both the system and the statement.

Phase 5: EMAS registration

Once validated, the statement is submitted to the competent authority (in Spain, the environmental bodies of the autonomous communities) to obtain EMAS registration. From then on, the organisation must maintain the system and update its statement periodically.

Frequently asked questions about EMAS

Does EMAS replace ISO 14001?

No. EMAS incorporates the management system requirements of ISO 14001 and adds further requirements (a public environmental statement, verification of legal compliance and employee participation). Many organisations obtain ISO 14001 first and then make the leap to EMAS.

Who can register for EMAS?

Any organisation, public or private and of any sector or size, that has an environmental management system, complies with legislation and publishes its verified environmental statement.

How often must the environmental statement be updated?

The environmental statement is updated with the frequency set by the regulation, with periodic verifications and updates that keep the registration valid.

EMAS is one of many routes to demonstrate environmental commitment. If you want to see the full picture, take a look at our guide to environmental certifications for companies. And if your priority is to measure and verify your emissions, discover how Manglai helps you with the GHG Protocol and ISO 14064.