Matteo Bartolomeo - 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 book is based on a research project sponsored by the European Commission (DG XII, Human Dimension of Environmental Change). It focuses on how companies calculate environmental costs in support of management decisions, exploring the possible contribution that management accounting may make to environmental management in a European context. A conceptual framework is developed within which the relationship between the two activities can be charted and analyzed. The work is based on a survey of 84 European companies and 15 company-based case studies in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK. The project produced unique empirical materials. It affords important insights into how companies can apply the principles of environmental accounting. It shows where existing accounting structures are helpful and where new sources of information are needed to address the environmental issues with which companies are confronted. It shows the potential usefulness of different accounting concepts and techniques in the environmental area.