The environmental performance of Europe’s food and drink sector is to come under greater scrutiny by regulators as the European Commission (EC) introduces changes to the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS).
Herbert Aichinger, an official at DG Environment, announced at a dinner in Brussels last week organised by the Food and Drink Federation that changes to EMAS could be expected by mid-April.
The new EMAS scheme would take into account an impact assessment of the economic, environmental and food-related issues within the EU, said Aichinger.
EMAS is a voluntary initiative designed to improve companies’ environmental performance. It aims to recognise and reward those organisations that go beyond minimal legal compliance and continuously improve their environmental performance. Companies participating in the scheme are required to produce environmental statements that report on their achievements.
The EC wants companies to become more energy efficient and reduce the waste they generate, said Aichinger. He made a direct comparison with Japanese companies, which he claimed were “much better at producing things than in the EU”. EMAS would be used to target more resource-efficient production, he said, particularly among small and medium-sized companies.
As part of its sustainability strategy, the EC would also need to address the issue of consumption, added Aichinger. Although environmental awareness was high among consumers, he said, this was not reflected in their buying habits. “We would like to bring retailers on board because of their crucial role. Retailers are a big element in changing consumption patterns.”
Aichinger called for lower value added tax on greener products to encourage their purchase. “We want far more eco-labelled products on the market and the strengthening of green procurement.”