The European Commission will tonight present awards to European companies and public authorities for outstanding achievements in environmental management. The annual European Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) Awards celebrate and promote best practice in managing the environment. The award ceremony will take place at the National Museum of Sweden in Stockholm

European Eco-Management and Audit Scheme EMAS is a management tool for companies and organisations to evaluate, report and improve their environmental performance. The scheme, which is voluntary, is designed to recognise and reward proactive organisations that go beyond the requirements of environmental laws by constantly improving the way they interact with the environment.

The scheme offers benefits to organisations that commit to protecting the environment. Companies can cut costs by reducing consumption of resources, such as energy and water and by minimising the use and waste of materials. EMAS came into force in 1995. Today, more than 4,300 organisations, covering over 7,400 sites, are EMAS-registered. The scheme is currently being revised to reduce costs and administration and to enable organisations located outside the EU to participate.

The EMAS Awards

Each year the annual EMAS awards focus on a different theme related to eco-management. This year's theme focuses on the supply chain, including green public procurement . This can include, for example, increasing the number of recyclable and recycled materials in manufacturing processes as well as the use of products, such as 'green electricity,' environmentally-friendly catering services and energy efficient IT equipment. Prizes are given in five categories:

• Micro-organisations (less than 10 employees and annual turnover up to €2 million)
• Small organisations (10-50 employees and annual turnover up to €10 million)
• Medium-sized organisations (50-250 employees and annual turnover of up to €50 million and/or balance sheet up to €43 million)
• Large organisations (more than 250 employees and annual turnover of more than €50 million and/or an annual balance sheet total of more than €43 million)
• Public administration

Nominees

Nominees have been selected at national level to represent their country. Each Member State can nominate only one organisation per category. The winners are selected by a panel of 6 EMAS experts.

The thirty-two organisations and public authorities that have been nominated come from the following countries: Austria (3), Belgium (2), Czech Republic (2) Denmark (1), Germany (4), Greece (4) Hungary (3), Italy (3), Norway (2), Spain (3), Sweden (4) and the UK (1).

EMAS in the European Commission

The European Commission is leading by example. Following a pilot phase, EMAS is being extended to all Commission departments in Brussels and Luxembourg. EMAS has proven to be the most appropriate instrument to manage and improve environmental performance. During the pilot phase the Commission saw significant reductions in energy and water consumption, CO2 emissions and waste generation, as well as greater uptake by staff of public transport.