Survey on Italian organizations that dropped out of EMAS: analysis of motivations and potential measures to re-launch the scheme

In recent years, the number of the Italian organizations that have decided not to renew EMAS registration has considerably increased. This research arises from the necessity to investigate the phenomenon that has arisen in the last few years. By looking at the data of the “ISPRA Environmental Issues 2009 – 2014”, also in 2009-2010 there had already been an increase in the organizations that did not renew the Registration. However, the phenomenon was not attributed to any specific factor but to a physiological decline following the European negative trend. In the same period, the stability in the number of registrations in Northern Italy and the growth of registered Public Administrations were considered as a strengthening of the scheme and as a new possible fresh start. The economic crisis, re-emerging in 2011 and exploding in all its seriousness in 2012, has critically hit the Italian production system, showing its effects on SMEs (Small & Medium Enterprises) with negative consequences on the participation in EMAS. This specific group of firms has shown the most considerable decline in the number of registrations. In order to better understand the phenomenon, a forum was organized with all the relevant EMAS Stakeholders (EMAS Forum 2015 edition). From the forum, a more complex picture emerged, not justifiable only with the "economic crisis". Therefore, a survey was conducted to examine in depth results of the Forum, targeting all the organizations that decided to withdraw from the EMAS registration between 2010 and December 2015.