About INEM

The International Network for Environmental Management e.V. (INEM), founded in 1991, is the world federation of non-profit national business associations for environmental management with about 30 member associations and cleaner production centres in 25 countries.

The purpose of this non-for-profit association is the promotion of

the protection of the environment, especially of the water, the soil and the air, as well as the protection of animals and plants from ecological damage;

the protection of human health;

science and scientific research, especially in the field of environmental protection.

INEM`s goals. . .

. . . are to increase the number of environmentally managed companies; assist in particular small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in implementing environmental management; improve the quality of environmental management; and transfer environmental management know-how from business and industry to other sectors of society. In addition, INEM strives to help develop a macro-economic framework that favours environmentally managed companies.

Where are we going?

INEM supports the establishment of member associations all over the world. Alongside international associations of enterprises, more and more international enterprises and institutions are joining INEM as affiliated members. Also regional networks of municipalities and enterprises are members and, through INEM, stay in contact with comparable institutions all over Europe and overseas.

We are going to intensify the exchange of experience and knowledge amongst the members by using the most modern communication techniques. Already today, the INEM website offers access to a wide range of tools and background information. It is going to be extended to an international marketplace for environmental knowledge and sustainable business management in terms of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Furthermore, INEM is going to enforce the alliance between its member associations, institutions and member enterprises. At this stage, INEM is an inexhaustible source of partnerships - in the field of management as well as technology.

On March 1st 2005 an international project office in Brussels has opened. This office is managed by Heinz Werner Engel and Eco-Counselling Enterprise scrl. By this INEM could further intensify the close collaboration with the European Commission and further international institutions.

INEM promotes . . .

. . . and disseminates environmental management through the establishment of national business associations world-wide and organises international cooperation among the member associations. INEM carries out projects, conferences, workshops and train-the-trainer seminars and develops and disseminates implementation aids for the praxis (e.g. Blueprint for Green Management, Eco-mapping, EMAS Tool Kit for SMEs, The INEM Sustainability Reporting Guide). A comprehensive website makes much of INEM's knowledge and experience available to the world business community.

INEM is. . .

. . . the oldest and largest association of its kind world-wide. Organisations in Austria, Brazil, Belarus, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Jordan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Poland, the Russian Federation, the Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom are members of INEM.

As an environmental and development organisation with business expertise, INEM favours large industries as well as SMEs and solutions that preserve the local identity in partner countries.

INEM is accredited to the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC) and holds consultative status with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and the Baltic Marine Environmental Protection Commission (HELCOM). INEM is also a Liaison member of the ISO Technical Committee on Environmental Management (ISO/TC 207), which is developing international standards for environmental management systems, environment auditing, eco-labelling, life cycle analysis, and environmental performance evaluation.