EN
The paper presents the idea of the Community Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) and experiences of polish organizations in its implementation. The author shows how the benefits of the implementation of the EMAS, but also examines the barriers and difficulties in its start-up. In the EU and EEA (European Economic Area) register of EMAS (as of 31.03.2009) there were 4331 organizations and over 6896 objects. As shown by the results of studies conducted by the author, this system, despite of the obvious benefits to society in Poland is still unknown. As of 31.03.2009, in Poland a total of 17 organizations, compared to 1419 organizations in Germany or 1063 organizations in Spain, and 978 organizations in Italy, and even 36 organizations in the Czech Republic, is very few. Both the scientific community and public institutions should integrate into the wider sustainable development and promoting the benefits of the implementation of EMAS in the organization. Sustainable development is essential to the life of humans, living organisms are not exacerbated, and at the same time, the economy developed, the objectives can be achieved through the voluntary implementation of EMAS.