The project will innovate as it is addressing in a revolutionary way the three major issues which hinder EU small business to access to EU and international EMS standards :

- Environmental management systems consulting costs,
- Competence and skills of professionals
- SME’s and certification cost.

 

The Network will contribute to the advancement of knowledge by highlighting best practices of innovative approaches for coaching SMEs all over Europe towards EMAS. This by using and validating innovative tools which lower the transaction costs of certification, and empower the consultants in developing the leanest EMS systems worldwide.

 

The innovation resides in providing european consultants a model of coaching SME’s which will lower the transactions cost of consulting and certification for SME’s in a dramatic way by 70%. The internal effort for SME to implement will go down from 133 days to 55 days.

A smart on line assistant for small business will reduce drastically the effort to provide the paperwork to be compliant with the documentation requirements of ISO 14001.

A training package including a "E-learning by doing platform" and personal tutoring for environmental consultants will allow consultants to get access to a unique proven concept and obtain a diploma based on a successful EMAS or ISO 14001 certification of the SME even in remote areas.

Real time economic and environmental benefits of the implementation of an environmental management system in SMEs will be able to be demonstrated via the online systems after one year.

The network’s activities will provide the opportunity of the development of a innovative modern coaching toolbox based on human and IT intervention for EMAS implementation.