The adoption of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to increase the implementation of EMAS

EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) is European Voluntary environmental management tool designed to support organizations to improve their environmental performance. Articles 38 and 44 of the EMAS Regulation contain the invitation for Member States to adopt legal instruments for reducing administrative burdens of the environmental legislation applicable to the EMAS registered organizations. Despite these provisions only few EU Member States have introduced regulatory relief measures and incentives for EMAS organizations into their national and local legislation. Under the BRAVER (LIFE15 ENV/IT/000509 co funded from the EU), an effort to identify, develop and testing of effective measures for better regulation has been done. In field testing of the “better regulation” proposals were assessment regarding their feasibility and their cost effective for both organizations and institutions / authorities. A total number of 35 proposed measures were tested, which most of them concerned economic and fiscal relief, public procurement, reduced inspections and funding support. Six of them already successfully adopted in the legislative framework of participating EU Member States, especially at regional level. Specifically, 4 measures adopted in Spain (2 in Catalonia; 2 in the Basque Country), 2 in Italy (Emilia – Romagna Region), 1 in Slovenia (national level) and 1 in Cyprus. Regardless the regulatory relief measures and incentives for EMAS organizations which have been adopted in the legislative framework, it’s also very important to determine the key performance indicator that an organization must set to monitor and control in order to achieved their goals. Key performance indicators define a set of values against which to measure and based on which evaluate the success of an organization or of a particular activity in which it engages.