Sustainable Churches
Project Background
In Germany, Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) pilot projects in churches and church organisations have been carried out over the past few years with the support of the "church eco-management" programme. To date, more than 100 churches and church organisations in different parts of Germany have been EMAS-certified or are in the process of implementation. The reduced consumption of water, energy and office stationery (by at least 10 %) and the committed participation of the personnel suggest that the introduction of EMAS in other churches and church organisations in Europe has good chances of success.
A European eco-management initiative for churches could also substantially increase the acceptance of EMAS in the business community and among citizens.
A sustainability management model (integrating EMAS and Corporate Social Responsibility – CSR) will be developed, covering 15 church pilot projects in at least four European countries. Successfully implemented, the project will serve as a reference model for "Sustainable EMAS/CSR" in churches and church organisations. Ten German pilot organisations will develop the model together and test it in practise. Another five churches or church organisations in at least three other European countries will be identified as project participants and will introduce an EMAS or EMAS/CSR management system. They will receive information on the sustainability management model and will be enabled to introduce the system independently with the help of educational material and the project web site. The participating organisations will serve as examples of “best practise” and develop their activities in keeping with socio-ecological criteria.
Duration
The duration of the entire project is 3 years (09/2003 – 12/2006). It will be implemented in the following phases:
1. Development and introduction of an integrated EMAS/CSR management system in at least 10 German pilot organisations (January 2004 – May 2005)
2. Communication programme for the dissemination of information to churches, industry and the public (April 2004 – July 2006)
3. Introduction of the EMAS/CSR management system in other European countries (October 2004 – July 2006)
4. Management audits and public relations support to the pilot organisations serving as reference models (January 2005 – July 2006)
5. Development of innovative “sustainability services” (April 2005 – July 2006)
Objectives
The project will be regarded as successful if the following results have been achieved:
In at least 15 church organisations an integrated EMAS/CSR management system has been introduced and established.
Continuous ecological, social and economic improvements in the model organisations are taking place. Consumption of environmentally relevant resources has decreased by 10 % as compared to 2002.
The EMAS/CSR management model is well known in the European church networks and ecumenical associations and its introduction is recommended to all church organisations.
Checklists, implementation kits and a management handbook are available. Templates in three languages can be downloaded from the project web site to facilitate implementation.
Each model organisation has introduced at least one innovative "sustainable” product or service to improve its competitive position.
A European network "Sustainable Churches" has been created and continues to promote the introduction of sustainability EMAS/CSR management systems in churches and church organisations.
Benefits
The objective of sustainability management is to continuously improve internal processes and to increase professionalism (capacity building of staff). It leads to more transparency and credibility, and by making use of the creativity and commitment of staff it contributes to more flexible and attractive organisations. Churches and church organisations can be pioneers leading the way towards sustainable societies.
Funding
The project is co-financed by the European Union (50 %, Life Programme), through contributions of the participating organisations and funding from third party resources.
