Environment

ISO 14001

ISO 14000 is a set of standards created to help companies around the world reduce their adverse impact on the environment. It’s a framework for improved and more environmentally-conscious quality management systems by organizations large and small.

The ISO 14000 series of standards was introduced in 1996 by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and most recently revised in 2015. (ISO is not an acronym. The short form of the organization’s name is derived from the ancient Greek word ísos, meaning equal or equivalent.)

Adopting the standards is strictly optional. Companies can get ISO 14000 certified. More than 400,000 organizations around the world have obtained certification, according to the latest ISO survey

EMAS (Eco-Μanagement and Audit Scheme)

The continual environmental degradation and consumption of natural resources are two of the biggest problems on our planet today. EMAS regulation is a Community Ecological Management System that was adopted by the European Union in 1993 (Regulation 1836/1993), revised in 2001 (Regulation 761/2001) and is currently in its third version (Regulation 1221/2009). Organizations participate voluntarily in implementing the requirements of EMAS European Regulation and receiving subsequent environmental verification.

The aim of the EMAS regulation is to assess and improve the environmental performance of organizations and to reduce the environmental impacts from the operation of their facilities.

Continual improvement of an organization’s environmental performance is achieved within the framework of an environmental policy and through periodic audits of the environmental management system.

The implementation of an environmental management system and subsequent verification in accordance with the EMAS has significant benefits for organizations, in terms of its internal operations and its relations with third parties.

• creating incentives to the personnel for greater participation and responsibility,
• Improving the organization’s image to the third parties (clients, society, suppliers) and to their personnel
• Improving management of the risks related to environmental issues through establishing and auditing appropriate procedures
• Saving energy and raw materials