measures) in EU industry. Some of this variability can be explained by
technological differences within sectors and some by differing regulatory
standards and enforcement. However, these preliminary results suggest that there
remain large potentials for improving the eco-efficiency and for reducing
environmental impact of European industry.
The results of our study also show that many assumptions about environmental
performance need to be revisited. In particular, we have been unable to detect
clear links between firm size and environmental performance, and firm location
and environmental performance. Small southern European firms seem equally
likely, on this evidence, to be good performers, as large northern European firms.
Policy has a role in both widening the scope of environmental performance
benchmarking between firms on an EU basis and in using this information for the
development of new policy and the implementation of existing policy.
The Uncertain Benefits of Environmental Management Systems
Over the last ten years many companies have adopted environmental management
systems, whether registered/certified or not. There has been a wide expectation
that these new management approaches would lead to tangible benefits in terms
of improved environmental performance. Many companies have argued that
’regulatory relief’ should be given to firms with environmental management systems.
The link between environmental management and performance was analysed
statistically in the MEPI study. In general, we did not find that those companies
with a registered/certified EMS perform significantly better than those without.
Indeed, in some cases they appeared to perform worse than those without an
EMS. This result suggests that more evidence is needed before environmental
arguments are made in favour of regulatory relief for certified firms. It also
underscores the need for a better information base for evaluating the impacts of
voluntary and market-based environmental policy instruments.
F. Berkhout
184
technological differences within sectors and some by differing regulatory
standards and enforcement. However, these preliminary results suggest that there
remain large potentials for improving the eco-efficiency and for reducing
environmental impact of European industry.
The results of our study also show that many assumptions about environmental
performance need to be revisited. In particular, we have been unable to detect
clear links between firm size and environmental performance, and firm location
and environmental performance. Small southern European firms seem equally
likely, on this evidence, to be good performers, as large northern European firms.
Policy has a role in both widening the scope of environmental performance
benchmarking between firms on an EU basis and in using this information for the
development of new policy and the implementation of existing policy.
The Uncertain Benefits of Environmental Management Systems
Over the last ten years many companies have adopted environmental management
systems, whether registered/certified or not. There has been a wide expectation
that these new management approaches would lead to tangible benefits in terms
of improved environmental performance. Many companies have argued that
’regulatory relief’ should be given to firms with environmental management systems.
The link between environmental management and performance was analysed
statistically in the MEPI study. In general, we did not find that those companies
with a registered/certified EMS perform significantly better than those without.
Indeed, in some cases they appeared to perform worse than those without an
EMS. This result suggests that more evidence is needed before environmental
arguments are made in favour of regulatory relief for certified firms. It also
underscores the need for a better information base for evaluating the impacts of
voluntary and market-based environmental policy instruments.
F. Berkhout
184