This document describes the Eco-Lighthouse certification system in Norway. It outlines the key elements of the system including environmental analyses, third party certification, annual reporting requirements, and recertification every three years. It also discusses the various stakeholders involved like businesses, municipalities, consultants, and an oversight board. Additionally, it provides an overview of the growth and success of the Eco-Lighthouse program since its inception in 1996 and compares it to the Polish Environmental Partnership Foundation's certification systems.

1. Eco-Lighthouse - the System
 Environmental analyses
 3rd part certification
 Annual report with action plan
and environmental accounting
in The EcoLighthouse web
based ERS system
 Recertification every 3rd
year
 One set of general
requirements The mayor of Trondheim, Rita Ottervik handed out 15
certificates - 9. June 2009.
 More than 70 sets of different
business & industry

2. Eco-Lighthouse
Requirements/Indicators
1.General
2. Working conditions
3. Procurement
4.Energy
5. Transport
6. Waste
7. Emissions to air and water
8. Aesthetics

3. Eco-Lighthouse – the Players
The businesess
Municipalities
Consultants certifies, follows up,
Information
The administration
Development - administration
advice & courses
Everybody
o-operation! must
contribute!
The Board

4. Eco-Lighthouse - Milestones
– 1996: Started by the city of Kristiansand - LA 21
– 2000: National board. Financed over the state budget, 2 mill
NOK year/ 3years
– 2004: EU – ”Best Practice” – SMB
– 2006: Self financed
– 2009 Web-based – Environmental Reporting System (ERS)
and Environmental Accounting System + a system for
managing Eco-Lighthouse certificates

5. Eco-Lighthouse - Growth

6. Eco-lighthouse - Why the success?
• The establishing of the national ”Eco-Lighthouse office”
• Financial support
• The founders - national approval and support
• Members and partners
• The businesses - we serve our members
• The consultant – an expert and a salesperson
• The municipality : flexible, local approach and local
approval and support
The industry criteria – makes the system concrete and
understandable for the businesses The Internet portal –
the system for managing the certificates + the ERS and

7. Ecolighthouse scheme
Financing
After about 10 years of operation the Eco-
Lighthouse scheme is now self-financing. The
main sources of income are from fees, namely:
• Fee for establishment of the certification process
from companies – none recurring
• Membership fee from companies – to be paid every
year
• Membership fee from municipalities – to be paid
every year

8. An evaluation and comparison
between
Clean Tourism and Green Office Certification System on Greenways
and
the Eco-Lighthouse Certification System

9. A Comparison of Indicators
Eco-Lighthouse Polish Environmental Partnership
Foundation (PEPF)
1. General lmplemented environmental policy
2. Working conditions Ventilation, air conditioning and fire
preventing systems in good working
condition (Clean Tourism) User friendly
working environment (Green Office)
3. Procurement
4.Energy Heating and electric power management
Ventilation and air conditions systems in
good working conditions Water supply
5. Transport
6. Waste Waste management procedures
7. Emissions to air and water Sewage disposal
8. Aesthetics

10. Similarities in the two certification
systems
• Environmental reqirements/indicators
• Guidelines for the use of indicators
• CO2 emission monitoring
• Use of co-ordinators in Poland and
consultants in Norway
• Use of auditors
• Certification Ceremonies

11. Indicator System Differences in the two
certification systems
The EcoLighthouse PEPF operates with 4
system operates complete sets of
with one set of requirements:
general requirements • Green office,
and additional • Clean tourism,
requirements for more • Bike Friendly
than 70 different • Local centre of
businesses. environmental
activity/Green flag

12. The Auditors Role in the two certification
systems
For both systems it is imperative that the audit is
carried out by an independent auditor (3rd party)
In Norway, the auditor
is trained and In Poland the auditor is
approved by the employed either at
Eco-Lighthouse, • a university or
but employed as a • an environmental consultancy
sivil servant in the
municipality

13. Ecocertification
What are the
benefits?
• Reduced costs, especially related to:
• Energy consumption
• Waste production
• Improved reputation
• More competitive
• A stronger brand
• Market demands
• Benefits for the environment
• Eco efficient production
• Less pollution

14. Views on the future
+
Given that PEPF’s system for environmental
certification is considered as a possible starting point
for development of a national environmental
certification system for SMEs in Poland, the following
should be considered:
• A cooperation between Poland and Norway which include
experiences from the Eco-Lighthouse scheme, and PEPF’s
experiences from Greenways.
• PEPF’s audit system can be simplified and still meet national
legislation and strong requirements on quality and neutrality

15. Next step?
+
There is a need to establish a more solid foundation
for Environmental Monitoring Systems (EMS) like
those developed on Greenways and the Eco-
Lighthouse by:
– less formal approach to EMS than ISO 14000 and EMAS
– elaborate on ”Best EMS practice” for SMB ’s in Europe
– integrate environmental certification schemes developed
on Polish ”Greenways” into a national environmental
certification scheme for Poland (and EU?)

16. Nordic Environment Network
Organization for harmonizing,
and coordination between invited less formal
EMS Initiatives
Less formal
Cities, regions EMS -
or local A first step
municipalities towards more
City of Copenhagen formal
City of Vejle systems
City of Göteborg
City of Stockholm
City of Oslo
City of Helsinki •ISO 14001
And others •EMAS
•Nordic Swan
Public and private EMS users