Transformation or transition plans for companies and operational facilities are increasingly being mandated – whether within the framework of the Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the EU Supply Chain Due Diligence Directive (CSDD), or the IED amendment . The legislator aims to ensure that companies plan the transition to a climate-neutral, resource-efficient economy in a structured manner and present their plans transparently to the public.
What do meaningful and robust transformation plans include?
- Specific targets for the (complete) reduction of the company's climate and environmental impacts in the coming years/decades
- An overarching strategy for achieving the goals and measures, as well as the provision of the necessary financial resources.
- Governance structure including details on roles, responsibilities (also at management level) and incentive structures for managers
- Analysis of the (climate) risks and opportunities for the business model, taking into account various scenarios.
What synergies exist with an environmental management system according to EMAS?
EMAS can help in the creation and maintenance of transformation plans. While EMAS does not explicitly require such a plan, it does require its essential elements:
- Strategic orientation within the framework of environmental policy
- Ongoing collection of environmental data and analysis of climate-relevant risks and opportunities
- Setting goals and measures for key environmental aspects
- Defining responsibilities and accountabilities – also at the management level
- Review of results within the framework of environmental audits and management evaluations
You can therefore use key elements from EMAS to create a transformation plan. Furthermore, the transformation plan complements the EMAS system in a meaningful way. The transformation plan can also be reviewed by an EMAS environmental verifier. This gives you the assurance that all essential elements are included.
For IED installations that are required to have an environmental management system from 2027 and a transformation plan from 2030, EMAS (in addition to ISO 14001) is therefore very well suited. The environmental management system can be particularly effective if it is implemented not only at the installation site but also throughout the entire organization.
Do you need support?
Contact us if you are interested in the creation of transformation plans and/or the implementation of an environmental management system according to EMAS!
Further information on the synergies between EMAS and transformation plans can be found in the recently published discussion paper of the Environmental Verifiers Committee entitled “Implementing transformation plans credibly with EMAS”.
Your contact person at Arqum: Theresa Steyrer