European scheme EMAS

Gorenje, d.d. from Velenje is the first registered company in Slovenia to meet the requirements by the European directive regarding treatment of environment Eco-Management and Audit Scheme. By its contents and requirements the EMAS scheme is actually upgraded ISO 14001 standard. On Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2004 in Gorenje head office, Minister of Environment, Physical Planning and Energy Mr. Janez Kopač ceremonially presented to the President & CEO of Gorenje Mr. Franjo Bobinac the Certificate of Entry into the EMAS Register.

ECO-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) is a directive by the European Parliament and the Council of Europe, elaborated as a tool for systematic treatment of environment. It should serve for evaluation and improvement of environmental treatment in industrial, service, and public corporations and institutions, and informing the public in regard to its effects. Whilst participation in the Scheme is on voluntary basis, the participating organization entered in the Register has the obligation to prepare the certified annual environmental statement. The EMAS directive is based on the ISO 14001 standard, upgraded with additional requirements regarding the areas of following relevant legislation, communication with the public, engagement of employees, and internal assessment.  Until July 2004, the EMAS system had registered over 3000 organizations within the EU, of which, however, only five companies in the area of household appliance manufacture. By entering the European Union and passing the new act in regard to the protection of environment, Slovenia has had the opportunity to participate in the EMAS Scheme.

Gorenje decided to voluntarily enter the EMAS Scheme even before the Slovenian entrance to the European Union, therefore it had adequately upgraded its existing system of environmental treatment by the ISO 14001 standard. In the period of aggressive investment into the modernization of technological procedures it had created circumstances for compliance with the legal requirements and rules regarding all environmental aspects. The latest environmental report published in Gorenje this May, has already included the certified environmental statement. Gorenje has also fulfilled the requirements regarding communication and engagement of employees in the environmental treatment system. Performance of the EMAS Scheme system in Gorenje was during this April and September checked by the Slovenian Institute for Quality and Measurements (SIQ) and found that the system conforms with the requirements of the EMAS European Directive.