When closing the entry period for candidatures, the jury had received 12 submissions for the category of Best Environmental Statement (Adasa Sistemas, Aigües Ter Llobregat, Association of Quantity Surveyors and Technical Architects and Building Engineers of Barcelona, the Vic Hospital Consortium, the Port of Mataró Consortium, Ecomundis Editorial, Elastogran, Empresa Constructora Familiar (EMCOFA), Germans Canyet Sirgú, Kao Corporation, Menzolit Vitroplast and Port Segur Calafell); 5 candidatures for the category of Best Initiative to Involve Personnel and/or Interact with External Interested Parties (Càmping Botànic Bona Vista, Cemex España- Alcanar factory, the Virolai School, Font Grau and Port Ginesta); and 4 candidatures for the category of Best Environmental Implementation (Apli Paper, with two submissions, the Catalan Health Institute and the Aigüestortes National Park and Reservoir of Sant Maurici).

Best Environmental Statement

The jury awarded the 2009 EMAS Prize for Best Environmental Statement to Menzolit Vitroplast SL, which presented an environmental statement like a press statement. It was printed in black and white and caught the eyes of both technical readers and those who weren’t experts on its language, due to its clever way of presenting environmental information.

Two special mentions were also awarded in this category to the organisations: the Vic Hospital Consortium, for its efforts in making environmental management visible in the healthcare sector and identifying its spokespersons, and to Ecomundis Editorial SL, for making the content of this document both attractive and easy to understand.

Best Initiative to Involve Interested Parties

The 2009 EMAS Prize for the Best Initiative to Involve Interested Parties went to Cemex España (Alcanar plant) for the creation and development of its Sustainability Committee, in which all external interested parties can participate.

A special mention was also awarded in this category to the Virolai School, for its project to involve the student body in tasks for managing the system.

Best Environmental Implementation

And, lastly, the 2009 EMAS Prize for Best Environmental Implementation was awarded to Apli Paper SA for its initiative to reduce electric consumption at its plant in Barberà del Vallès by optimising the lighting system and raising awareness.


10 years in EMAS

The presentation of awards did not stop there. Like last year, the occasion was used to acknowledge the EMAS organisations with 10 years registered. They were:


•Cargill SL Sociedad Unipersonal
•Hotel Samba
•Secciones Contínuas Técnicas S.A.
•Straw S.A.
•Siemens S.A. - Cornellà factory-
•Elastic Berger S.A.
•Menzolit Vitroplast S.L.
•Bioibérica S.A.
•Grupo General Cable Sistemas S.A. (sites of Manlleu, Montcada i Reixac and Abrera)
•Cytec Surface Specialties Ibérica S.L.
•Hispavic Ibérica S.L. i Vinilis S.A.

With the aim of acknowledging the efforts companies have made to contribute to improving our environment, and a new feature this year, the Directorate General of Environmental Quality of the DMAH took advantage of the event to hand out EMAS certificates to the organisations that registered during 2009. This helped to spotlight these organisations. There were a total of 28 companies that decided to manage their environmental impacts according to an EMAS. They participated in the celebrations, taking to the stage for ‘The EMAS Cuisine' to receive the certificate from the Minister of the Directorate General and the Club EMAS President. All of them were also an active part of the evening, becoming the new EMAS ‘chefs’.

To view the different environmental statements presented, we would like to invite you to visit the EMAS website of the Catalan Ministry of the Environment and Housing (EMAS web of the catalan Competent Body), or the individual websites of each company presenting a candidature.