The role of the EU tools: Bringing EMAS and Ecolabel to a broader public Presentation at the High Level Conference on Sustainable Tourism Malta, 8 May 2017 Pierre Gaudillat European Commission Joint Research Centre
Content An introduction to EU tools: EMAS and the EU Ecolabel Best Practice for the Tourism sector and introducing Take a Green Step: the toolbox for accommodation managers
What is EMAS? EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme An Environmental Management System? An EU Regulation? An environmental performance reporting tool? an environmental management instrument standing for: Performance Systematic improvement of performance against significant environmental aspects. Credibility Verification by an independent and accredited third party Transparency Transparent reporting based on defined indicators
Who can participate? And Why? EMAS is open to all organisations, from any sectors, which aim to: Implement solid processes to improve environmental management and decrease costs Ensure legal compliance and minimise risks Improve their image through the use of EMAS logo and environmental declaration Improve relation with stakeholders including authorities
EMAS and the tourism sector EMAS has been implemented by more than 220 frontrunners in the Tourism sector Leading countries are Cyprus, Germany, Italy and Spain. Key benefits for tourism operators: Be attractive, sustain the quality of your destination Be profitable, save money by using less resources Be credible, use the most robust environmental management instrument Be strategic, you can only improve what you can measure Be responsible, improve your environmental impacts.
WHAT IS THE EU ECOLABEL? Established in 1992 A voluntary scheme aiming at promoting products and services with a lower environmental impact The official European Ecolabel, managed by the European Commission and Member State Competent Bodies It is the only EU-wide Type-1 Ecolabel - provides businesses the opportunity to use one label for all their pan-european or global marketing Multi-criteria (pass/fail) and third party verified criteria addressing main environmental impacts over the products' or services' life cycle Provides consumers an environmental certification they can trust
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Revised EU Ecolabel criteria for Tourist accomodation services Revised award criteria - 22 Mandatory requirements - 45 Optional requirements (points system) Main sections (mandatory and optional requirements): - General management - Energy - Water - Waste and wastewater - Other
EU Ecolabel for tourism - Why apply? CONTRIBUTES to resource and monetary SAVINGS in water and energy consumption, reduce waste production, to improve the CO 2 footprint etc. HELPS EU citizens to make informed choices and travel more sustainably CERTIFIES that a hotel is among the most environmentally-friendly DIFFERENTIATES your product on the global market HELPS stand out amongst other hotels in terms of environmental excellence and CSR TAKE ADVANTAGE OF marketing activities
Italy - absolute leader 177 Hotels & 25 Campsites
France - 2nd absolute leader 92 Hotels & 23 Campsites 12
EMAS and EU Ecolabel: complementary tools for the circular economy EMAS EU Ecolabel Target Organisations / sites Products / services Focus Accomodation facilities, restaurants + campsites, tour operators, travel agents Nature of scheme Voluntary Voluntary Main objective Continuous improvement in environmental management Date BEMPs published 2013, SRD 2015 Communication Mostly B2B Mostly B2C Tourist accomodation services, campsite services Recognising products / services with a lower environmental impact First criteria published 2009, revised 2017 Popularity ~220 in 8 Member States ~800 in 22 Member States, 5 in Malta + link between schemes: shared approach on LCA / major environmental aspects and hotspots, link to EMS in Ecolabel and to Ecolabelled products and services in BEMPs
EMAS and EU Ecolabel are based on complementary commitments EMAS = continuously improve and demonstrate environmental performance EU Ecolabel= comply with environmental criteria developed for every sector High Environmental performance Low EU ECOLABEL SCOPE Time
The documents produced so far Best practice reports RETAIL TOURISM CONSTRUCTION AGRICULTURE FOOD MANUFACTURING PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION EEE MANUFACTURING RETAIL TOURISM CAR MANUFACTURING Sectoral Reference Documents
The Best Environmental Management Practices for the Tourism Sector Cross-cutting issues (transversal) Destination management best environmental practices; EMS implementation Tour operators and travel agents best environmental practices; Biodiversity conversation Sustainable packages Minimising water consumption in tourist accommodation; Waste management in tourist accommodation; Minimising energy use in tourist accommodation; Restaurant and hotel kitchens best environmental practices; Campsite best environmental practices. Natural pools Optimised dishwashing Efficient water fittings Waste prevention Optimised HVAC
Example BEMP: rainwater and grey water recycling It is BEMP to install a rainwater collection and distribution system for use inside the building installation of a grey water collection, treatment and distribution system for use either inside or outside the building. Applicability: Water recycling systems may be installed during building construction or major renovation. Cost-benefit assessment that considers economic and environmental criteria should include the source and scarcity of water supply now and in the future. Environmental performance indicators: 1) % of annual potable water consumption substituted with recycled rain- or grey- water; 2) Quantity of rainwater and grey water used annually, m 3 /yr
The Best Environmental Management Practices for the Tourism Sector Cross-cutting issues (transversal) Destination management best environmental practices; Tour operators and travel agents best environmental practices; Minimising water consumption in tourist accommodation; Waste management in tourist accommodation; Minimising energy use in tourist accommodation; Restaurant and hotel kitchens best environmental practices; Campsite best environmental practices.
BEMPs made easy: introducing takeagreenstep.eu The one-stop online place for tips on how to make your hotel and restaurant more eco-friendly. Funnelling readers to the relevant information, takeagreenstep.eu will include: - Introductory articles on big and small green steps for your business - To go further Case studies showing how others have achieved it - To get the full technical details References to the full Best Practices in an easy-to-read format - As well as practical tools you can use immediately such as signs for guests and checklists for staff - and much more
Don't miss it! takeagreenstep.eu launches 1 st June
Special features: a preview by OldContinent takeagreenstep.eu
Thank you! Paolo Canfora Marco Dri Ioannis Antonopoulos Pierre Gaudillat European Commission Joint Research Centre Circular Economy and Industrial Leadership Unit Edificio EXPO C/ Inca Garcilaso, 3; E-41092 Seville Email: jrc-ipts-emas@ec.europa.eu http://susproc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/activities/emas/index.html 24