THE ROLE OF THE ECO-MANAGEMENT AND AUDIT SCHEME (EMAS) IN THE PROMOTION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN POLAND

Abstract

This paper presents the idea of the Community Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) and the experience of Polish organizations in its implementation. The author shows how, the benefits of implementation, but also examines the barriers and difficulties in its start-up. In the EU register of EMAS (as of 19.12.2008) there were 4256 organizations and over 6740 objects. In comparison to Germany (1419 organization), Spain (1033 organizations), or Italy (939 organizations), and even Czech (33 organizations), in the EMAS register is only 16 organizations and 25 objects from Poland. Among the organizations registered with the Polish company predominantly large companies with the lack of the SME sector. The largest concentration of EMAS systems implemented in terms of 1 million inhabitants is present in Austria (32 organizations), Denmark and Germany (17 organizations), Italy (16 organizations). Our country is only 0.42 organizations. Research shows that this system in Poland is still not known, therefore the promotion of its implementation in the organization, is an objective article. Polish society and policy-makers must understand, for sustainable development is essential to the life of humans, living organisms are not exacerbated, and at the same time, the economy developed. These objectives can be achieved through the implementation of EMAS.