ABSTRACT
In line with developments in the European Community, Germany saw in the early 1970s the beginnings of a systematic environmental policy. In the process of standardisation, technical regulations are often adopted by non-governmental organisations such as the German Standardisation Institute or the Association of German Engineers. During the course of the 1980s a number of key environmental policy breakthroughs were achieved, which contributed to Germany’s leading international position on environmental matters. When the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) regulation was adopted, it was widely assumed that German companies would be reluctant to participate. In the 1997/98 survey, German companies stated why they were willing to participate in EMAS. The most frequently mentioned reasons for participation in EMAS were to improve environmental protection strategies and to enhance the image of the company. The 1997/98 survey revealed that insurance companies were not offering special reductions for EMAS sites.
