To fire up your vacation spirit, we have some exciting news to share about EMAS and the world of sustainable tourism. As you plan your well-deserved summer vacation, our newly launched EMAS Tourism Campaign invites you to explore exceptional places that have embraced eco-friendly practices and committed themselves to preserve the beauty of our planet. From travel agencies and transportation to accommodations and holiday activities such as water sports, recreational pursuits, and even amusement parks, you can choose options certified by EMAS. Be sure to check out the EMAS Tourism Campaign on our website and get inspired for a memorable and environmentally conscious summer getaway. 

On another note, the beginning of June was marked by the EMAS Social Media campaign, held in conjunction with the EU Green Week. Several EMAS organisations participated, leveraging Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram to share motivating EMAS hero stories of their businesses. The posts tell of new projects implemented to further enhance energy efficiency, the significant amount of waste avoided and carbon dioxide emissions reduced through EMAS, and for example, the Polish organisation ERGO Hestia showcased their “Bike Forever” program, aimed at encouraging their customers to choose bicycles over cars. To delve deeper into the achievements and initiatives shared by the EMAS community you can simply search for #ECOchallenge and #EMAShero on the social media platforms you are using.

We also want to share some exciting news concerning EMAS and biodiversity. Biodiversity is one of the key areas of EMAS and the importance of its conservation for our economy cannot be underestimated. However, quantifying and effectively integrating biodiversity into corporate strategies can be challenging. To facilitate this task, the “EMAS and Biodiversity” guide has been revised this year by the Lake Constance Foundation and the Global Nature Fund. Companies learn how this complex topic can be operationalized for various business areas and challenges, as well as possible targets and measures, are addressed. 

At last, we want to draw attention to three interesting topics:

We celebrate the approval of the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) from the European Parliament on June 1. The directive will require large EU companies and global companies with significant EU presence to monitor and address environmental and human rights impacts along their supply chains. 

Furthermore, the European Commission has published a revised version of the European Sustainability Reporting Standard (ESRS) for public consultation. Comments can be submitted until July 7, 2023. The ESRS is used by companies to report on their sustainability performance, covering environmental, social, and governance aspects in accordance with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

Third, we highly recommend watching the new TV magazine, “The Road to Green” produced by the EU. The series explores green solutions to current crises and how the European Green Deal is taking shape.

Now enjoy the articles and events featured in this edition and have a great summer!