Product Innovation Impacts of EMAS: Results of Case Studies and a Survey of German Firms Validated according to the EU Environmental Management and Auditing Scheme

Authors: Hoffmann, Esther; Ankele, Kathrin; Nill, Jan; Rennings, Klaus

Source: The Journal of Sustainable Product Design, Volume 3, Numbers 3-4, December 2003 , pp. 93-100(8)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

One requirement of the EU Environmental Management and Auditing Scheme (EMAS) is the inclusion of product planning and an assessment of environmental consequences of new products in the context of environmental policy and programmes, as well as an ecomanagement audit. This paper investigates the effects of EMAS on environmental product-related innovation activities in German firms. The analysis is based on 12 in-depth case studies and telephone interviews with 1277 EMAS-validated company sites. Apart from technical, product-integrated initiatives, we asked for organisational innovations in product planning. The case studies and the survey show a positive impact of EMAS not only on environmental processes and organisational innovation, but also on product-related innovative activities. The impact is dependent on certain external and internal factors, such as the position in the value chain and involvement of the R&D department, but is generally higher than previously expected.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10970-005-2973-5

Publication date: 2003-12-01