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Environmental reporting

Further information

Sustainable development

On the Government's main sustainable development website you will find the UK Sustainable Development strategy Securing the Future, which was launched by The Secretary of State, Margaret Beckett in March 2005.

Business Review (Accounts Modernisation Directive)

The Business Review, required under the Accounts Modernisation Directive, requires Directors of quoted and large private companies to report on environmental issues significant to a company’s business practice.

Corporate Social Responsibility

The Government has an ambitious vision for UK businesses to consider the economic, social and environmental impacts of their activities, wherever they operate in the world. This site connects you to information about what we are doing to help make that vision a reality.

Environmental Management Systems (EMSs)

Formal and externally certified environmental management systems can help to underpin company reports by providing a clear and verifiable way of measuring, managing and reporting data on impacts, risks and liabilities.

Government recommends that organisations seeking to implement a robust EMS should choose external certification against international standards from an inspection body accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). For a list of UKAS accredited Certification Bodies see:

ISO 14001

ISO 14001 is the internationally recognised standard for Environmental Management Systems (EMS). For a copy see:

For a copy of "Revision of ISO 14001: what the publication of the 2004 edition means for organisations using the standard", please see

EU Eco Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS)

EMAS is an EU-wide Regulation that incorporates ISO 14001 as the EMS component and requires organisations to produce a public statement about their environmental performance as well as progress against targets.

EMAS is a voluntary initiative designed to improve companies' environmental performance. It aims to recognise and reward organisations that go beyond minimum legal compliance and continuously improve their environmental performance. For more information see:

BS8555

This standard allows organisations to implement ISO 14001 or EMAS by breaking the process down into a series of easy stages and enables companies to gain formal recognition for making improvements to their environmental performance along the way.

A scheme offering independently accredited recognition for organisations using BS 8555 has been developed by IEMA and the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). For more information about BS 8555, including guidance notes and case studies see:

For a copy of the standard see:

For details of the Acorn Inspection Scheme see:

Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)

An multi-stakeholder process and independent institution whose mission is to develop and disseminate globally applicable Sustainability Reporting Guidelines. These Guidelines are for voluntary use by organisations for reporting on the economic, environmental, and social dimensions of their activities, products, and services.

National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI)

AEA Technology (AEAT) are under contract to Defra to provide the UK's NAEI and Greenhouse Gas Inventory and details of these and methods used to estimate pollutant emissions from road transport and other sources can be found in reports on the NAEI website.

Page last modified : 7 February 2006

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs