How Does EMAS Affect Organisations’ Efforts and competitive Rewards? Analysis of the Drivers, Barriers and Benefits Connected with the EU Scheme.

In sight of the incoming revision process relating to the two most important voluntary instruments of the European Commission – the EMAS Scheme and the EU Eco-label – the Ever Study has been carried out on behalf of DG Environment by a consortium of consultants led by Iefe - Bocconi University. The fundamental aim of the Ever Study was to provide recommendations for the revision of both the voluntary schemes. As regards in particular EMAS, the Study aimed at delivering a critical appraisal of the instrument, in terms of relevance, effectiveness and efficiency. Furthermore, it identified the drivers and barriers of the scheme, and investigate its effectiveness (i.e. appropriateness as policy instrument) and viability. The Study provided the Commission with recommendations by detailing options for improvement. This paper aims at describing the results of the Ever Study, with specific reference to Emas barriers, drivers, benefits and impact on competitiveness, on the basis of the evidence collected in the different phases of the Study: the ‘desk research’ – consisting of a thorough review of existing literature and previous studies and surveys on the schemes – and the ‘in-field’ research, carried out by way of direct interviews and case studies, provided the background relating to their strengths and weaknesses.