Energy Efficiency Improvement in Polish Manufacturing Enterprises Participating in the EMAS Scheme

Purpose:The purpose of this paper is to present undertakings of Polish manufacturing enterprises participating in the EMAS scheme, implemented to improve their energy efficiency.Design/Methodology/Approach: The theoretical part of the study presents the results of previous desk-research regarding the EMAS system, indicating a gap in the knowledge concerning particular activities implemented by the analysed companies in order to improve their environmental performance.The empirical part contains the results of individual research conducted in Polish manufacturing enterprises participating in the EMAS scheme.The grounds for the assumed research method was the analysis of secondary sources in form of environmental statements.The selection of sample was targeted, the research involved a complete analysis among 12 manufacturing companies from Poland, participating in the EMAS scheme.It should be noted that the analysis of environmental statements had been used as the grounds for the research in previous studies concerning the EMAS scheme, among others, describing the effects of EMAS implementation on the improvement of environmental performance. Findings: The conducted analysis allowed to identify most common initiatives aimed at energy efficiency improvement and indicate examples of specific solutions in that area. The most common undertakings included, improvement of manufacturing processes, modernisation or replacement of lighting systems, energy recovery, using renewable sources of energy and rebuilding or retrofitting of buildings along with process installations and equipment.Practical Implications: Specific solutions identified in the course of the analysis included both cheap and simple ones, as well as more expensive and time-consuming procedures, but all of them could inspire organisations of different size, with a large spectrum of activity profiles.This paper may be also important in the aspect of life quality, as it describes solutions aimed at reaching optimum energy efficiency.Originality/Value: This study supplements previous research concerning the EMAS system, providing specific examples of activities undertaken by Polish manufacturing companies in order to improve their energy efficiency.