Survey on Italian organizations that dropped out of EMAS: analysis of motivations and potential measures to re-launch the Scheme

In Italy, that accounts for over 1000 MEAS registrations, even though the number of registered organizations remained substantially stable, there has been a growth of mainly small organizations that did not renew the registration. To figure out reasons behind this negative trend and to identify potential measures to stimulate organizations to move back to EMAS, we conducted an in-depth analysis. The investigation consisted of two main steps: first we conducted focus groups with EMAS organizations to clarify critical aspects of its implementation. Then, findings served as baseline to built a questionnaire targeted to all Italian organizations that did not renew EMAS between 2010 and 2015. From a population of 379 organizations respondents were 99. Main reasons for dropping out of EMAS were costs, lack of incentives and simplifications, and law recognitions by consumers. Considering measures that would encourage organizations to move back to EMAS, most significant were long term incentives and simplifications measures and a batter access to public finding.

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