Background Since research and development (R&D) is the first step when introducing new processes or products in industry, it is clear that R&D has a great impact on the environmental friendliness of future technologies and processes. Today, more than 25 000 industry-focused private and public R&D organisations exist in Europe, employing about 2.5 million highly skilled researchers and engineers. However, up to now, no R&D organisation exists in Europe with an implemented environmental management system in accordance with EMAS standards, meaning that, in most R&D organisations, environmental aspects of their research and development work for industrial clients or authorities are not continuously monitored and improved. In other words, sustainable product and process development is not structured and organised at the very first stage in a supply and production chain. Objectives The purpose of the project was to develop an approach that would enable European R&D organisations to adopt Environmental Management Systems, meeting the requirements laid down in the European Environmental Management and Auditing Scheme (EMAS II). EMAS II will be used for the systematic identification of R&D best management practices (BMP) and programmes, which will result in positive ecological, organisational and economic benefits. The goal is to promote as many good examples of BMP as possible to stimulate other R&D organisations to implement EMAS II structures. A comparison of each participating R&D organisation, before and after environmental improvements, will be made to verify that the implemented BMP programme has created better environmental conditions and economic benefits. For this purpose, an appropriate benchmarking system will be developed. A positive relationship is intended to support the premise that 'Green' R&D will generate clear quality, organisational and, ultimately economic gains for the organisation and its developed products. Gains can be measured in terms of new income derived from e.g. increased and improved services, cost savings from improved housekeeping procedures, environmentally friendlier products and increased public attention. The key project objectives can be summarised as follows: • Develop a methodology to enable European R&D organisations to adopt Environmental Management Systems that meet the requirements laid down in EMAS II • Develop and demonstrate an environmental performance benchmarking system for R&D organisations • Identify BMPs and demonstrate that implemented BMPs have created better environmental conditions, organisational structures and economic gains for the R&D organisations as well as for their customers • Develop computer tools to support the implementation and maintenance of the EMAS system. Results The project has only partly reached its objectives.