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Education and Health (NACE codes 80. and 85.)

15/12/05

First EMAS School registered in Italy

The Liceo Scientifico Alvise Cornaro in Padova has taken a completely new approach to the education of its young citizens: With a little help from a consultant, whose children were pupils in the school, the school has implemented EMAS for its buildings, 900 pupils and 100 staff. The achievement is particularly important, as the Alvise Cornaro school became the first school ever to register for EMAS in Italy.

Integrating the knowledge and principles of EMAS into the curriculum gives the teachers the possibility to educate future generations about the idea of environmental management from a very early age. During EMAS implementation, 14 modules on environmental issues have been integrated in the curriculum of various classes.

“Early attachment to EMAS values will give the former pupils a significant chance to carry the idea of environmental management into companies and families from the start”, Mrs. Lucia Tomasoni from the Liceo Scientifico explained.

The process of establishing EMAS in a school called for considerable re-thinking by the school authorities of Veneto, prior to the Alvise Cornaro School completing registration in June 2005.

Italy now has a network of schools preparing for EMAS registration, about ten are expected to register in the near future, and will host a conference for EMAS in schools in May 2006. For more information on the Liceo Scientifico Alvise Cornaro visit the school’s website.

15/12/05

Leicester City Council supports the first 50 schools in the UK to gain EMAS verification

EMAS in primary and secondary schools has proved a great tool for environmental education. Environ and Leicester City Council are working in partnership to support the first 50 schools in the UK to gain EMAS verification.

This groundbreaking project is currently funded by the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund and seeks to secure funding beyond March 2006. The proposal is to continue to build on the ongoing work, increasing the number of schools verified in Leicester to 67 before 2009. This will mean that nearly 70% of all schools, Primary, Secondary and Special, in Leicester will be verified with EMAS within three years

Consultation with Councils around the UK has shown that there is huge emphasis being placed on the inclusion of a more structured approach to deliver Education for Sustainable Development.

There are 12 other Local Authorities across the UK who could immediately start to expand their EMAS work out into their schools. As a result Environ wants to facilitate conferences to unite these local authorities and develop training resources specifically aimed at providing local authority personnel with all of the information they need to successfully implement this work.

Leicester City Council and Environ, together with these Local Authorities, have also produced an EMAS in Schools Handbook. This comprehensive guide to implementing EMAS in Schools also lists a number of direct curriculum linked resources for use in class.

For more information about the EMAS in Schools Project see the website or contact Project Manager Charlotte Lewis.

14/10/05

Design your products with EMAS at Design School Kolding

The tendency to teach environmental management to pupils and students has now led to the registration of the first school in Denmark, the Design School (Designskolen) Kolding located about 70 km north of the German border in Jylland region.

Design School Kolding provides a higher education level through 5 years of design training. The aim of the training is to give the students qualifications within the field of design and crafts-design, and the necessary technical, aesthetic, ethical and analytical tools to be able to solve design projects at an artistic, scientific and humanistic level.

The training is also orientated to encourage development and research within design and crafts-design, such as the environmental aspects of design.

The design School Kolding has spent the last two years preparing for the verification by, among other measures, drafting a handbook for environmental management which is accessible for all employees and students via the school’s web site.

All computers have been equipped with shut down functions and insulation for walls, doors and windows has been analysed and renewed. A remarkable reduction in electricity and heat consumption has taken place through these measures.

By introducing an efficient waste separation system, waste was reduced by 30% within the first year of the system being in place.

More information about the Kolding Design School is available from Morten Cramer Buch and from their website.

14/10/05

University hospital “Virgen de las Nieves” in Granada (Spain) receives EMAS registration

In August, one of the largest hospitals in Spain, the University Hospital “Virgen de las Nieves” in Granada received its registration for EMAS.
The hospital management has committed itself to EMAS because it will promote the continual improvement of environmental performance in the hospital which employs more than 4,500 people. EMAS has been chosen for its ability to manage and maintain processes relevant for environmental performance, such as cleaning, separation of medical waste, energy efficiency and many more.
The systematic and objective evaluation of the functioning of the environmental management system, the diffusion of information about the environmental performance of the hospital and the open dialogue with suppliers and staff are only few of the additional reasons for the implementation of EMAS.

13/09/05

Italy goes international – both on the EMAS website and for EMAS schools

The Italian EMAS-Ecolabel Committee has just launched its own web site at www.emas-ecolabel.it. Besides translating parts of the website into English, the Italian Committee is the first Competent Body in Europe to have a registration form both in the national language and in English.

The first EMAS school on the border between Italy and Slovenia has been opened thanks to an agreement among Regione Friuli, the four Provincies of Trieste, Udine, Gorizia and Pordenone and the Local Authorities of Gorizia, for Italy, and Nova Goriza and san Pietro Vertoiba, for Slovenia. The school will be based in Gorizia within the University of Trieste. It is recognized by the Italian EMAS-Ecolabel Committee and it will be attended by experts and verifiers for the environment from both countries. Mr Pino Lucchesi, chairman of the Italian Committee, has pointed out the importance of this new experience for both the Emas-Ecolabel schools and for the system of registration of the Italian and Slovenian Local Authorities. “All this", Mr Lucchesi said, "is a way to overcome the old national borders and an important example for the present debate in Europe about developing European rules.”

The EMAS section of the Italian Committee for Ecolabel and Ecoaudit has registered a state school, the first time this has happened in Europe. The Liceo Scientifico Statale “Alvise Cornaro”, in Padova, has promoted a remarkable environmental programme. Mr Pino Lucchesi acknowledged the registration of the Italian school as “a new path for certification ranging from experts to young people. This is an important example to spread in Europe because only a new interest in and respect for the environment can save the health of the planet that we will leave to the next generations.”

For further information, please contact Giancarlo Infante

15/07/05

Knappschaftskrankenhaus recklinghausen Hospital registered

In North Rhine Westphalia, the former hospital for miners (Knappschaftskrankenhaus) in recklinghausen has received EMAS registration. The hospital has become a focal point for the industrial region, offering 459 beds in 17 wards. In nine units 16,000 patients have received treatment in 2004, while more than 100,000 patients are treated without needing to stay overnight.

More than 990 employees now seek to minimize environmental aspects of pharmaceuticals, washing, catering and transportation. Energy savings are expected to provide the best cost/benefit ratio among all environmental targets.

For more information contact the EMS department or visit the Knappschaftskrankenhaus recklinghausen website.

15/07/05

Sweden’s pharmacies corporation Apoteket AB registered under EMAS

The national pharmacies’ corporation seeks to combine a healthy patient with a healthy environment. It has recently registered its division in the Skåne region of south west Sweden where 86 pharmacies employ about 950 staff. Main environmental aspects cover on-demand supply for patients and physicians, provision of drugs and information on their safe use.

One of the environmental targets identified by Apoteket AB is the right and timely application of drugs, which aims to reduce the amount of pharmaceutical drugs drained into water courses. Another is the aim to reduce CO2 emissions from transportation, energy consumption and business travel by 10%. Furthermore, it is a target that more than 75% of left over pharmaceutical will be returned to the pharmacies’ staff.

Nine million patients are supplied annually through the Skåne division of Apoteket AB, equivalent to about 10% of the total number of subscriptions.

Details about the environmental management and performance of Apoteket AB can be read in the environmental statement (in Swedish) or the website.

17/06/05

“Freie Universität“ of Berlin achieves EMAS registration

Continual improvement is one of the guiding principles not only of the educational curricula of the Freie Universität (FU) of Berlin but also of their environmental policy. The President of the FU, Prof. Dr. Dieter Lenzen states: ”The protection and preservation of natural resources is a social duty that we consider an educational assignment, too.”
The university has been ISO-14001 certified since December 2004. Now, it has received the EMAS registration for the sites of the central administration, the offices of the President of the FU Berlin as well as for the Düppel site, where 24 buildings are used for veterinary medicine.
By modernising the heating systems and by optimising the building’s structure, the heating consumption of the buildings was reduced by more than 30% which translates into cost reductions of 400,000 Euro per year. For the future, the idea is to include more buildings within the environmental management in order to achieve an even better environmental balance. Furthermore, the university has provided its staff with voluntary training on environmental behaviour since April 2005.
Further information (in German) is available here or by contacting Andreas Wanke, in charge of energy and environment at the Freie Universität Berlin.

15/04/05

ÖKOLOG for vocational schools – Austria provides yet another new environmental label

Several dozen schools in Germany and the UK have already implemented EMAS, at both primary and secondary level. In Austria, the Vienna Town Hall staged a kick-off event for sustainability education in vocational schools.

The ÖKOLOG event was designed to foster sustainable development in vocational schools, provide best practice examples and create a network specially designed for vocational schools.

Options for certification were presented. In addition to the Austrian Eco-label for schools, EMAS was presented as an option for promoting environmental consciousness in the school yard. Pupils from certified schools presented their practical experience. Two schools have so far completed EMAS registration in Austria.

14/03/05

Four Hospitals achieve EMAS registration for Integrated Environmental Management Systems developed under a LIFE project

In a four year project, funded under the EU LIFE Environment programme, four hospitals from different European regions and with different specialisations successfully completed the systematic integration of EMAS into an integrated management system. The Asklepios Harzkliniken (DE), the Clinics of Unita Sanitaria (Tuscany, IT), the Cancer Clinics Paoli Calmettes in Marseille (FR) and Sanatorium HERA (Vienna, AT) have gone to the length of registering the implemented EMAS system with the authorities, so the project results can be transferred to any other hospital.

By steering environmental processes, the hospitals manage to reduce unhygienic waste. This results in reduced costs for waste disposal, as well as a reduction in water consumption for cleaning and in energy consumption for sterilisation.

After three years of project management under project manager Stefan Kruse of Asklepios Harzkliniken and a lot of training, the hospital found EMAS useful to combine doctors’ and nurses’ knowledge with environmental parameters of products, resulting in cost savings. One of the crucial elements for capacity-building was the development of an e-learning platform, which enables staff quick real-time access to information on environmental and health via the intranet. Subjects include:

  • Waste management
  • Fire protection
  • Saving energy
  • Hygiene
  • Internal training schedule
  • Handling of detergents and disinfectants
  • Environmental management system

The e-learning platform was found especially useful for reducing training time and for staff who are not allowed to leave their position when working with the patients.
For more information contact Ms Dusica Gobo at Sanitorium Hera or visit the website
http://www.hera.co.at/html/umwelt.php
The LIFE project reference is LIFE00 ENV/D/000317

13/01/05

School for EMAS consultants at Viterbo (Italy) admits 30 students to courses for EMAS consulting in local authorities and agriculture

The Region of Viterbo has announced the names of the 30 students it will admit to the consultancy training courses “EMAS in Local Authorities” and “EMAS in agriculture” for 2005 – 2006. 26 students are about to graduate from the 2004/2005 course in November, completing 179 theoretical and 100 practical lessons. The lectures will start on February 3rd 2005.

For more information contact the EMAS School at Viterbo (Lazio region).

13/01/05

“EMAS In School” project fosters environmental education in primary and secondary schools

EMAS In Schools initiative : pupils and teachers

Following the initiative of Leicester City Council and Environ aiming at transferring the EMAS intentions to school grounds, the “EMAS In School” web site has been launched. It offers an introduction to the aims of the EMAS In Schools initiative and shows how pupils and teachers can enrich their curricula.

Environ has taken care to ensure that activities undertaken as part of EMAS will be tied into most areas of the National Curriculum, including English, Science, Maths, Geography, Art & Design, Citizenship and Information and Communication technology. The curriculum will be enriched by the relationship that the pupils will develop with the environment. Pupils will take part in every stage of the environmental management and audit process; this will give them new experiences and knowledge which can be used in all aspects of learning. It is their chance to get involved in a real-life practical project, which will help them build on written and communication skills.

In addition, children develop ownership and personal and social responsibilities for the school and its environment, among all members of the school community. As well as the opportunities provided for pupils, taking part in the EMAS project also provides numerous opportunities for staff to develop leadership and management skills.

Teachers can now download the full teacher's information element of the handbook from the website at www.emasinschools.org.uk. The handbook contains 22 worksheets for pupils, introductions and accompanying teachers’ notes on environmental aspects such as waste, energy, water, transport, fair trade and environmental communication.

The twenty-six schools in the Leicester area, around 50 German, two Austrian and one Spanish school have implemented EMAS so far. The latest joining the scheme are the Auguste-Viktoria-School, the Hebbel School at Kiel, the Integrierte Gesamtschule Flensburg and the Paulus-Paulsen-School, all in Schleswig-Holstein (Germany).

13/12/04

School children from 26 schools in Leicester celebrate achievements in EMAS

The event was held in October when children and teachers from old and new EMAS schools were invited to share their experiences and celebrate their success.

The schools are the first in the UK to have achieved this European award for which they had to show how they reduced a wide range of their environmental impacts, such as waste, energy, water and school grounds.

The schools have accomplished this with support from the consultant Environ, working towards Leicester City Council's goal of making all of its services EMAS -verified.

The occasion was celebrated by an exciting pupil orientated event, which gave all EMAS schools the chance to meet and share ideas with each other in an environmental setting. Intentions were not only to congratulate those schools which have worked hard to getting EMAS verification, but also enthuse those just coming aboard, about the environmental benefits of adopting EMAS within school. Practical, educational and fun workshops involving everyone created the chance for schools to establish relationships through the launch of the new EMAS Handbook, Website and Newsletter.

EMAS , originally developed for businesses in 1995, had never been applied to schools in the UK before Environ and Leicester City Council began working together with support from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF).

A further NRF grant of more than £200,000 will now allow another 32 schools to work towards this green goal over the next two years.

Schools taking part in EMAS receive an environment audit and then pupils and teachers work together to develop an action plan to reduce their impact on the planet.

Some exciting projects have been put into action through the scheme such as plans to install a wind turbine at Eyres Monsell Primary School and Beaumont Lodge Primary School has created a new woodland wildlife area for pupils to explore.

For more information contact Leicester City Council's EMAS coordinator Charlotte Lewis . A list of primary and secondary schools registered can be seen here .

18/10/04

Technical high schools in Poland and Germany team up for EMAS

An EMAS-registered technical high school in Baden-Wuertemberg (situated in Tettnang near Friedrichshafen ) has established a partnership with a school in Poland . Both schools will cooperate in the field of EMAS.

More information is available from Mr. Stefan Frey , Ministry of the Environment, Baden-Wuertemberg.

15/03/04

Study EMAS at the Universities of Gothenburg and Bremen

Universities in Germany have been EMAS-registered for some time and now, Sweden’s Gothenburg’s University has joined in. As a start, the management, the common administration of the 70 departments and the marine biology lab in Tjärnö have been EMAS registered. Vice-chancellor Gunnar Svedberg and environmental manager Ingemar Thorén aim to extend the management system to all departments on the campus in the centre of Gothenburg as soon as possible.

Gothenburg University is one of Sweden's largest and most popular universities.

A century ago, for the university was housed under one roof. Today, Gothenburg University has about 40 000 students, a staff of well over four thousand, and almost as many part-time teachers. There are approximately 70 departments in all, many of which rent facilities in old stone buildings and other properties in the centre of town. Several new university buildings have increased centralisation and most of the departments are now located in the city centre.

For more information visit www.gu.se or contact Mr. Ingemar Thorèn

15/03/04

The University of Bremen has completed its validation

Verifier Hans-Peter Wruk included a check of the teaching and research activities (indirect aspects) and audited the university’s legal compliance in water protection and hazardous material manipulation as part of the audit of Bremen University.

By using a sophisticated energy management system, the university is able to analyse electricity consumption all over the campus.

Teachers, employees and students have founded a ”Sustainability Studies“ network to promote ideas and practical implications of courses in environmental research, both in science and humanities. Another main interest of the network is to offer an integrated teaching module for students in courses other than science.
Further information on EMAS in the University of Bremen is found from Doris Sövegjarto-Wigbers

17/09/03

Leicester Sets the Pace for EMAS in schools

Schoolchildren and teachers in Leicester, England, are helping to lead the way with EMAS in UK’s education sector. Two primary schools in the city have already gained EMAS accreditation and 16 more have just embarked on the scheme.

The schools are being guided through the programme by Environ, a Leicestershire-based environmental charity, which has obtained support from the Neighborhood Renewal Fund (NRF) to pay for a Schools EMAS Coordinator. The NRF money is aimed at giving some of Britain’s most deprived urban areas an environmental, economic and social boost.

Environ is working in partnership with Leicester City Council, which gained EMAS registration in July, 1999, and has since been working to promote and extend the scheme in the city. Environ and Leicester City Council are keen to spread EMAS throughout the city’s education sector and would like to start working with secondary schools in the near future.

Environ’s Schools EMAS Coordinator, Rachel Dalby, said that all the head teachers taking part were very enthusiastic about what EMAS could do for their schools and the surrounding areas. She said: “Everyone involved agrees that the time is right for the environmental impact of schools to be reviewed and improved. Schools are small communities where adults and children interact with the environment in complex ways on a daily basis. Our work to improve the environmental credentials of schools will undoubtedly filter into the wider community as staff and pupils take home ideas from the classroom.”

For more information go to “Case studies & projects” in the public administration section.

17/09/03

Italian school for EMAS environmental consultants and auditors

The Italian Competent Body for EMAS has developed an EMAS training scheme for environmental consultants and auditors, specifically targeted at the needs of SMEs.

The training is designed for recent graduates without any specific work experience. The programme includes a general theoretical module, a specific module for a productive sector and an external phase which has to take place within SMEs of the selected field. This “internship” is a fundamental step of the training and allows the students to gain practical experience about the selected sector.

Students who have successfully accomplished the final examinations receive a certificate and will be included on a national list of environmental auditors qualified by Italian EMAS schools, published by the Italian Competent Body. The above certificate also permits an easier accreditation as an environmental verifier for SME with less than 15 employees, in the specific field of training.

For more information see the section on Italy in the Member States page.

11/12/02

European Seminar : "Environmental Management Systems in schools"

The introduction of environmental management systems into schools is an uncontested entry of the education sector into the field of Sustainable Development. Indeed, schools can not only reduce their impact on the environment for example by reducing the consumption of energy and water, but also fulfil a role in educating young people about the many different environmental problems and ways to address them.

A seminar organised jointly by "ASBL COREN" and the "Association Universitaire de l'Environnement" on Wednesday 27 November 2002 at Mons in Belgium will discuss the possibilities of implementing an EMS in the education sector and present initiatives already under way.

In the morning session of the seminar, a panel of scientists will introduce the theory of environmental management. In addition to these theroretical aspects, the pedagogical interest of environmental management in schools will be discussed. The afternoon will be entirely devoted to the different experiences of environmental management practices in schools in different European Member States.

For more information visit http://www.coren.be/sme/index.html or write to robertoimpedovo@coren.be