The European Eco-Management and Audit Scheme EMAS celebrated its 20th anniversary on 13th November by organising a high level conference at the European Central Bank in Frankfurt. The conference highlighted the best practice approaches to environmental management and the experiences of leading EMAS organisations. UPM is among the companies who have been registering under the EMAS since it was established.

"UPM pulp and paper mills started with EMAS registration soon after the scheme was established, and has been persistent with registration ever since. In 2012 and 2013 UPM extended its EMAS registration to its mills outside Europe, i.e. to UPM Fray Bentos pulp mill in Uruguay and UPM Changshu paper mill in China. On global scale, there are only two companies who have registered their mills outside Europe in the EMAS," says Sami Lundgren, Director, Ecolabels and Reporting in Frankfurt.

"EMAS has helped thousands of organisations since its inception in 1995. Users have become more resource-efficient, consumed energy more wisely, saved on costs and reduced their environmental impacts at the same time. Its environmental reporting requirement has meant registered organisations are among the most transparent in the world, as regards to environmental data," says Karmenu Vella, European Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.

"UPM is very committed to improve its environmental performance and to disclose openly information on its impacts on environment, society and economy," says Ulla-Riitta Unkuri, Vice President, Stakeholder Relations, UPM Paper ENA. "Transparency and openness towards stakeholders are an essential part of UPM's corporate responsibility worldwide. The global EMAS registration and the third-party verified reporting promote continuous improvement in all of our operations," Unkuri says.

In addition to corporate EMAS statement and the paper and pulp mill specific supplements, UPM provides comprehensive environmental data assured by third parties on corporate, mill and on a single product's level. Ecolabelled products, product declarations and certified operations are the proof for UPM's responsibility and transparency.