EMAS environmental management: Federal Environment Agency practises what it preaches

Federal Environment Agency practises what it preaches

The Federal Environment Agency (UBA) in Dessau-Roߟlau was awarded EMAS registration on 10 April 2008 by the President of the Halle-Dessau Chamber of Commerce (German: IHK), Albrecht Hatton.  UBA’s offices in Dessau-Roߟlau as well as three other sites in Berlin-Grunewald, Berlin-Marienfelde and Langen near Frankfurt/Main have been acknowledged and officially registered with the Halle-Dessau Chamber as practitioners of comprehensive environmental management according to the European EMAS Eco Management and Audit Scheme. This is official confirmation that UBA meets the high standards set by the EMAS scheme and allows the Agency to bear the EMAS logo, which is the highest award for operational environmental protection in Europe.

”The Federal Environment Agency has become the 119th organisation since 1996-- and the first public office at all- to be validated according to EMAS within our Chamber of Commerce’s region.  The Federal Environment Agency thereby fulfils its own voluntary obligations, and it reinforces its role as frontrunner in matters of environmental protection, committing once again to the region, here in Saxony-Anhalt, to trade and commerce, and supporting the Environmental Alliance”, commented IHK Director Albrecht Hatton.

”We are implementing environmental protection consistently in our own building.  Our environmental management has met EMAS requirements for years.  This is quite a boost for UBA’s credibility and strengthens our position in environmental policy debates”, said UBA President Prof. Dr. Andreas Troge upon receiving the IHK-issued certificates.  ”Systematic environmental management is not only good for businesses, it should also be practiced by public authorities”, said Troge.  One key to the success of environmental management at UBA is that it is completely integrated into all its activities, processes, and departments. This includes a concept of property management oriented towards saving energy and resources as well as ecological purchasing and event planning.  For the past few years UBA has focused efforts on ecological mobility management, aimed at reducing the strain on the environment of travel on official business, commuting, and company cars.  Video and teleconferencing in particular have - in part - replaced business trips, and support of car pooling has been part of mobility management.

German Environment Agency

Wörlitzer Platz 1
06844 Dessau-Roßlau
Germany

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 EMAS  environmental management  EMAS Umwelterklärung