J.J. Bouma - Böcker

The ECOMAC project (Eco-management Accounting as a Tool of Environmental Man­ agement) has provided a framework for linking environmental management with man­ agement accounting. It was funded in Theme 4, 'Human Dimensions of Environmental Change' in the EU Environment and Climate Research Programme. The project is of high policy relevance by contributing to the on-going debate on eco­ management accounting, reporting and indicators. It is also an area needing further re­ search. I would like to thank the research team, companies that participated as associated con­ tractors, and the advisory panel. Jonathan Parker DG XII/D-5, European Commission Theme on Human Dimensions of Environmental Change 7 Preface The ECOMAC project This document is the final report on the project 'Eco-management accounting as a tool of environmental managemenf (ECOMAC). This research project was conducted under the Environment and Climate Programme (Human Dimension of Environmental Change) of the European Commission (DG XII). The ECOMAC project investigated how companies are using or intend to use environ­ mental costs and benefits figures in support of their decisions, and what they have been doing to remedy the limitations of conventional management accounting in this area. The research was largely explorative in nature, but the project also produced a structured overview of the subject and made suggestions and recommendations as to how compa­ nies could improve their own environmental accounting.

This volume aims to aid the integration of a company's environmental and business interests, thereby enhancing corporate eco-efficiency in terms of reducing environmental costs or making one's product more competitive. It presents a number of EMA frameworks that companies can take as a basis for implementing their own specific EMA structures. Besides discussing environmental accounting issues within conventional management accounting, it gives a detailed picture of materials flow (cost) accounting as an alternative way of looking at the ecology-economy relationships at the corporate level. A case study shows how a large company (Siemens) applies materials flow accounting and what benefits it entails. Applying EMA in an effective way may require the use of information systems. The book discusses the pros and cons of different strategies in this area; one may opt for a total integrated solution, partially integrated solutions or for a stand-alone system. Governments may have good reasons to promote the application of EMA.The use of economic instruments to internalise environmental externalities (norms, ecotaxes and tradable permits) can be much more effective if the incentives they produce are not frustrated by a lack of adequate cost accounting. EMA can be of great importance here. The book discusses a number of these issues, giving information on how international and national organisations (such as in Japan) have taken steps to promote the adoption of EMA by the business community. A final section presents a number of different topics such as how environmental costs can be of help in defining environmental management strategies, and how to take environmental performance indicators a step further by developing sustainability indicators for product chains. A final chapter explores a possible theoretical foundation for research on why, how and to what extent companies adopt EMA. Such research may help to turn available insights as to what EMA should be into effective EMA strategies.

This volume aims to aid the integration of a company's environmental and business interests, thereby enhancing corporate eco-efficiency in terms of reducing environmental costs or making one's product more competitive. It presents a number of EMA frameworks that companies can take as a basis for implementing their own specific EMA structures. Besides discussing environmental accounting issues within conventional management accounting, it gives a detailed picture of materials flow (cost) accounting as an alternative way of looking at the ecology-economy relationships at the corporate level. A case study shows how a large company (Siemens) applies materials flow accounting and what benefits it entails. Applying EMA in an effective way may require the use of information systems. The book discusses the pros and cons of different strategies in this area; one may opt for a total integrated solution, partially integrated solutions or for a stand-alone system. Governments may have good reasons to promote the application of EMA.The use of economic instruments to internalise environmental externalities (norms, ecotaxes and tradable permits) can be much more effective if the incentives they produce are not frustrated by a lack of adequate cost accounting. EMA can be of great importance here. The book discusses a number of these issues, giving information on how international and national organisations (such as in Japan) have taken steps to promote the adoption of EMA by the business community. A final section presents a number of different topics such as how environmental costs can be of help in defining environmental management strategies, and how to take environmental performance indicators a step further by developing sustainability indicators for product chains. A final chapter explores a possible theoretical foundation for research on why, how and to what extent companies adopt EMA. Such research may help to turn available insights as to what EMA should be into effective EMA strategies.