EMAS (Eco Management and Audit Scheme) is a voluntary environmental protection instrument created by the European Union to control and monitor the management and environmental impact of organisations' activities and to publish information in the form of environmental statements.

The EMAS system is one of the ways in which an organisation can proceed with the implementation of an environmental management system – EMS. EMS means a systematic approach to environmental protection in all aspects of business through which a company integrates environmental care into its business strategy and day-to-day operations. EMS is an integral part of the management system of the entire enterprise and concerns the organizational structure, methods of division of responsibilities, technological procedures, processes, resources for establishing and implementing environmental policy. The EMS is primarily aimed at protecting (reducing the consumption of) natural resources, reducing the amount of waste and pollutants, reducing the risk of environmental accidents, protecting the health of workers and inhabitants and, last but not least, sustainable economic growth of the enterprise.

EMAS represents a proactive approach by the company to monitor, manage and progressively reduce the negative environmental impacts of the organisation’s activities above and beyond the legislative requirements. It is intended for both manufacturing enterprises and organisations operating in the private sphere, as well as for state and public administration organisations or parts thereof. The condition for participation in EMAS is certification by a third independent party.