GAIKER-IK4 was present in Brussels yesterday at the EMAS award ceremony of the European Union (EU), as a "medium enterprises" finalist, selected by the Ministry of Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs among 1,200 organizations to represent Spain in Europe because of its efficiency in managing resources and its commitment to the environment. Previously, the Technology Centre - jointly with ITP engineering - had been chosen by the Basque Government from a total of 53 entities to represent the Basque Country in Madrid.
These awards recognize excellence in environmental management of the organizations ascribed to the Environmental Statement and the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS), initiated in 1993. Last night, a total of 42 organizations - representing 15 countries of the European Union - opted to one of the 6 award categories. The great finalists were Mahou-San Miguel, Oxfam-Solidarité (Belgium) and Sandwell Homes (UK).
The first landmarks that attest to GAIKER-IK4's commitment to sustainability takes us back to 2003, when the Centre received its ISO 14001 certification for environmental management. In 2005, it was granted the EMAS II validation, after taking up the challenge of environmental management in a more rigorous framework, which required the design of tools to measure the environmental impact of their R&D&I project and the dissemination of sustainable good practices and environmental information among its Stakeholders. The recent adaptation to the new requirements set by EMAS III (revised in 2010) now requires the setting - in collaboration with workers - of appropriate environmental indicators, the identification and assessment of indirect aspects, mandatory reporting on environmental legal compliance or the development of good practices guidelines related to product design, among others.
Joining eco-efficient companies
In line with GAIKER-IK4's commitment, last November the Technology Centre has joined the Eco-Efficiency Programme in Basque Companies 2010-2014, which has been recently launched by the Department of Environment of the Basque Government and Ihobe (Environmental Management publicly corporation), that aims to increase environmental actions on an enterprise level.
This program, funded with 15 million euros, allotted to 1,000 entities, seeks to recover a total of 100,000 tonnes of waste, while reducing CO2 emissions by 100,000 tonnes or the consumption of 200,000 tonnes of raw materials by the year 2014.