SUMMARY
Future with EMAS Conference: Integrating Environmental Management, Chemical Risk, Industrial Emissions, Green Public Procurement and Sustainability Reporting.
Date: November 6th and 7th, 2025
Location: Atlas Tower, (November 6th and Ł-IChP office (November 7th) in Warsaw, Poland
Organizers: General Directorate of Environmental Protection (GDEP), Polish Forum for Environmental Management (PFEM), Łukasiewicz-IChP, POMInnO
Patronage: European Commission (EC), Ministry of Climate and Environment (MoCE)
Financial Support: Life Fit for REACH 2 Project, National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management
Sponsors: ERGO HESIA, BUDIMEX
Executive Overview
The “Future with EMAS” conference brought together environmental policy leaders, industry practitioners, verifiers, and chemistry/sustainability experts from across Europe to explore the integration of the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) with emerging regulatory frameworks, chemical risk management, industrial emissions, green public procurement and modern sustainability reporting standards. The event demonstrated EMAS’s continued relevance and evolution in response to EU environmental policy priorities.
Session Summaries
Session 1: EMAS Integration
Theme: Integration of EMAS within European environmental policy frameworks
Key Presentations:
- EMAS Integration within European Policies (Pierre Henry, EC Representative)
- Positioned EMAS as a cornerstone of EU environmental governance
- Highlighted alignment with broader EU policy objectives
- EMAS & CSRD: Building Transparent Environmental Reporting (Monika Brom, EFRAG & Austrian Environment Agency)
- Explored synergies between EMAS and Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)
- Emphasized dual-system approach for comprehensive environmental transparency
- Strategic Look at Chemicals Risk Management (Antonia Reihlen, LIFE Fit for REACH 2)
- Integrated chemical risk assessment into EMAS framework
- Connected REACH compliance with environmental management systems
Key Takeaway: EMAS serves as a foundational tool for meeting multiple EU regulatory requirements simultaneously, particularly in environmental reporting and chemical safety compliance.
Session 2: EMAS Motivation
Theme: Why organizations choose EMAS—business case and stakeholder perspectives
Key Presentations:
- Environmental Performance of Selected EU Organizations (Prof. Alina Matuszak-Flejszman, Poznań University of Economics and Business)
- Research-backed evidence of EMAS effectiveness
- Demonstrated measurable environmental improvements across registered organizations
- Insurance Industry Perspective (Mario Zamarripa, STU ERGO Hestia)
- Insurance companies recognize EMAS as risk mitigation tool
- EMAS registration improves insurance terms and reduces liability exposure
- Environmental Verifier Perspective (Nunzia Miele, DNV Business Assurance)
- Third-party verification adds credibility and accountability
- EMAS verification process strengthens organizational environmental governance
- Health Industry Success Stories (Maria Passalacqua, CLUB EMAS CAT)
- EMAS adoption across European health sector organizations
- Demonstrated sector-specific benefits and best practices
- Internet of Things as Environmental Risk Control Tool (Józef Staśkiewicz, STU ERGO Hestia)
- Digital innovation enhancing EMAS implementation
- Real-time monitoring of environmental parameters and chemical storage
Key Takeaway: EMAS delivers tangible business value through risk reduction, improved insurance positioning, enhanced credibility, and technological integration—motivating diverse organizational sectors to adopt the scheme.
Session 3: EMAS & Chemicals Management (14:00–15:30)
Theme: Integration of chemical risk management with EMAS framework
Key Presentations:
- EU Chemicals Policy Updates (Kastalie Bougas, DG ENV)
- Latest regulatory developments in EU chemical governance
- Policy alignment with EMAS and sustainability objectives
- Environmental Aspects of Hazardous Substance Use (Jolita Kruopiene, LIFE Fit for REACH2)
- Practical methodologies for evaluating and minimizing chemical impacts
- Integration of hazard assessment into environmental management systems
- Integrating Chemicals Management and EMAS (Robert Pochyluk, Polish Forum for Environmental Management with support of Antonia Reihlen, LIFE Fit for REACH 2 and Plenary Discussion moderated by Heidrun Fammler, LIFE Fit for REACH2)
- Identified key integration concerns and practical solutions
- Polish perspective on bridging chemical compliance and environmental management
- Collaborative exploration of integration challenges and opportunities
- Cross-stakeholder dialogue on best practices
Key Takeaway: Chemical risk management and EMAS represent complementary systems; effective integration creates comprehensive environmental governance addressing both regulatory compliance and operational sustainability.
Session 4: Future with EMAS
Theme: EMAS evolution in response to emerging regulatory and sustainability imperatives
Key Presentations:
- Green Public Procurement Case Study (Simona Sabolová, Slovak Environment Agency)
- EMAS as competitive advantage in public procurement
- Slovak experience demonstrating market value of certification
- IED 2 Impact on Environmental Management Systems (Juhan Ruut, LIFE FitforREACH)
- Industrial Emissions Directive 2 implications for EMAS
- Regulatory alignment and system adaptation requirements
- EMAS and Sustainability Reporting (Christoph Töpfer, German Environment Agency)
- EMAS as foundation for comprehensive sustainability reporting
- Integration with CSRD and ESG frameworks
- Summarizing Discussion Panel (Moderated by Heidrun Fammler, LIFE Fit for REACH2)
- Synthesis of future directions and strategic priorities including clear benefits for registered organisations
- Stakeholder consensus on EMAS relevance and pragmatic evolution
- Voluntary vs Soft Mandatory approach for future EMAS was addressed
Key Takeaway: EMAS continues to evolve as a strategic tool for organizations navigating complex regulatory landscapes, sustainability reporting requirements, and competitive market positioning.
Session 5: GALA EMAS Celebration
Theme: Recognition of EMAS achievement and community building
Key Presentations & Activities:
- Awarding Ceremony (General Directorate of Environmental Protection)
- Recognition of Polish EMAS-registered organizations
- Polish EMAS Success Stories
- BUDIMEX
- PGE Elektrownia Opole
- Przedsiębiorstwo Budowy Dróg i Mostów, Mińsk Mazowiecki
- Demonstrated organizational commitment to environmental excellence
- History of EMAS in Europe and Poland (Małgorzata Stelmaszczyk & Marta Bociek, Polish Ministry & GDEP)
- Historical context and evolution of EMAS scheme
- Poland’s role in European environmental management landscape
- EMAS Incentives for Organizations (Andrzej Ociepa, Polish Forum for Environmental Management)
- Support mechanisms and incentive structures
- Facilitating organizational adoption
- EMAS Club in Catalonia: Community Building Model (Maria Passalacqua, CLUB EMAS)
- Peer-to-peer learning and collaboration framework
- Regional community approach to EMAS promotion
- EMAS Development in Estonia (Harri Moora, Estonian Association for Environmental Management)
- Baltic perspective on EMAS adoption and growth
- Regional success factors and lessons learned
- Reflection on Future with EMAS (Robert Pochyluk, Polish Forum for Environmental Management)
- Strategic vision for EMAS evolution
- Priorities for scheme development and stakeholder engagement
Key Takeaway: EMAS represents a vibrant, growing community across Europe with demonstrated organizational success, regional variation, and collective commitment to environmental excellence and sustainability leadership.
BONUS Session: EMAS and Sustainability reporting
Theme: EMAS evolution in response to emerging regulatory and sustainability imperatives
Key Presentation and Discussion:
- Environmental reporting in VSME and EMAS (Christoph Töpfer, German Environment Agency)
- Addressed specific challenges and opportunities for Very Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (VSMEs) in environmental reporting
- Demonstrated how EMAS framework can be adapted to support VSME compliance with emerging reporting requirements
- Explored proportionate approaches to environmental data collection and disclosure for smaller organizations
Key Takeaway: EMAS offers scalable solutions for organizations of all sizes, including SMEs seeking to navigate complex reporting obligations without disproportionate administrative burden with VSME..
Cross-Cutting Themes
- Regulatory Integration: EMAS increasingly serves as foundational framework for meeting multiple EU requirements (CSRD, REACH, IED 2, Green Public Procurement)
- Chemical Risk Management: Integration of chemical safety into EMAS represents critical evolution, addressing both environmental and occupational health dimensions
- Digital Innovation: IoT and real-time monitoring technologies enhance EMAS implementation and environmental risk control
- Business Case: EMAS delivers measurable value through risk reduction, insurance benefits, market competitiveness, and regulatory alignment
- Community & Collaboration: Regional EMAS clubs and peer networks strengthen adoption and knowledge sharing
- Sectoral Diversity: EMAS application spans manufacturing, energy, health, infrastructure, and service sectors
- VSME Accessibility: EMAS framework offers proportionate, scalable solutions enabling smaller enterprises to meet environmental reporting obligations without excessive administrative complexity
Strategic Implications
- For Organizations: EMAS provides strategic advantage in sustainability reporting, regulatory compliance, and market positioning
- For Policymakers: EMAS serves as effective policy instrument for environmental governance and circular economy transition
- For Verifiers & Consultants: Growing demand for EMAS expertise across emerging regulatory frameworks
- For Regional Development: EMAS adoption correlates with environmental performance improvements and organizational sustainability maturity
- For VSMEs: EMAS offers accessible pathway to environmental reporting compliance and market differentiation
Conclusion
The “Future with EMAS” conference affirmed the scheme’s continued relevance and evolution in response to Europe’s sustainability imperatives. By integrating chemical risk management, aligning with emerging reporting standards, fostering collaborative communities, and providing proportionate solutions for organizations of all sizes including VSMEs, EMAS positions organizations for success in an increasingly complex regulatory environment while advancing genuine environmental performance improvement.
CONTACT:
You can contact Conference Office via email
whatsapp: +48 661 360 170
Also, conference is covered on a number of social media.
