ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses the oversight in the existing business and environmental literature and presents the findings from one of the first surveys of enterprises to have implemented the European Union (EU) Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) Regulation in the UK. For many Scottish business organisations the implications of uncertain and complex environmental problems are driving the need for improved management approaches. The UK chosen for study because the British Government was a champion of the EMAS Regulation despite much resistance from other EU Member States. The EMAS Regulation is principally directed towards Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises which comprise more than 99 per cent of the 15.7 million business organisations registered in the EU. Many of the respondents also expressed concern over the cost of establishing and maintaining the EMAS Regulation. The EMAS Regulation is the most recent approach to raising environmental performance standards in European organisations.
