Ihobe, the Environmental Management Agency attached to the Basque Government’s Ministry for Economic Development, Sustainability and the Environment, has published its Environmental Statement (ES) for 2020. The statement sets out all the data on its environmental performance and highlights the projects and services provided during the year.

Any company or organisation can opt to implement the EMAS, which requires the senior management to incorporate the environmental factor as a key part of its organisational policy. An environmental assessment must therefore be conducted and the generated impacts evaluated in order to then implement an environmental management system, which must be available to the general public.

Ihobe, which is fully aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), follows the steps set by the EMAS. Apart from promoting it among Basque companies and organisations, Ihobe leads by example as it has implemented the system inhouse.

Ihobe has thus published its 2020 ES validated by AENOR. It not only assumes internal management commitments in the statement, but it also extends it to all its suppliers. The aim is not only for the organisation’s own performance to be exemplary, but also to drive changes and improvements in its sphere of influence; thus, the environmental benefit extends beyond Ihobe’s direct operations and involves the companies supply office equipment and stationery, trips, IT and conference organisation, etc.