EMAS
EU voluntary scheme for environmental management and audit
ISO 27018
Code of practice for PII protection in public clouds.
Quick Verdict
EMAS drives voluntary environmental performance improvement via verified public statements in the EU, while ISO 27018 extends ISO 27001 for cloud PII privacy controls. Companies adopt EMAS for eco-credibility and ISO 27018 for procurement trust.
EMAS
Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 Eco-Management and Audit Scheme
Key Features
- Validated public environmental statements with core indicators
- Verified legal compliance as registration prerequisite
- Independent verification by accredited environmental verifiers
- Measurable continuous environmental performance improvement
- Sectoral Reference Documents for benchmarking best practices
ISO 27018
ISO/IEC 27018:2025 Code of practice for cloud PII
Key Features
- Privacy controls for PII in public cloud processors
- Subprocessor transparency and location disclosure
- Prohibits PII use for marketing without consent
- Mandates breach notification to customers
- Supports data minimization and subject rights
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
EMAS Details
What It Is
EMAS (Eco-Management and Audit Scheme) is the EU's voluntary environmental management regulation under Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009. It promotes continuous environmental performance improvement through structured systems, public reporting, and verification. Scope covers all sectors and sizes; methodology follows PDCA cycle with ISO 14001 integration plus unique transparency elements.
Key Components
- Initial environmental review of direct/indirect aspects
- EMS with policy, objectives, audits, and employee involvement
- Core indicators (energy, materials, water, waste, emissions, biodiversity)
- Annual validated public environmental statements (Annex IV)
- Independent verifier validation and Competent Body registration
Why Organizations Use It
- Verified legal compliance reduces regulatory risks
- Measurable efficiency gains (energy/water savings)
- Procurement advantages and ESG/CSRD synergies
- Enhanced stakeholder trust via transparent reporting
- Strategic differentiation in EU markets
Implementation Overview
Phased approach: review, EMS design, audits, verification, registration. Applies to SMEs (with derogations) and multisites; 12-18 months typical; requires verifier audits and annual updates.
ISO 27018 Details
What It Is
ISO/IEC 27018 is a code of practice extending ISO/IEC 27001 and ISO/IEC 27002 specifically for protecting personally identifiable information (PII) processed by public cloud service providers acting as PII processors. Published in editions including 2014, 2019, and latest 2025, it addresses cloud challenges like multi-tenancy and cross-border data flows using a risk-based approach within an ISMS.
Key Components
- ~25–30 additional privacy-specific controls mapped to ISO 27001 Annex A themes (organizational, people, physical, technological)
- Core principles: consent/choice, purpose limitation, data minimization, accuracy, transparency, accountability
- Integrated into ISO 27001 certification; no standalone certificate
Why Organizations Use It
- Enhances trust, accelerates procurement via Statement of Applicability
- Aligns with GDPR Article 28, HIPAA processor obligations
- Manages risks through subprocessor disclosure, breach notification
- Differentiates CSPs in competitive markets, aids cyber insurance
Implementation Overview
- Gap analysis, integrate controls into existing ISMS
- Update policies, contracts, training; third-party audit during ISO 27001 cycles
- Suited for CSPs all sizes; incremental if ISO 27001-certified
Key Differences
| Aspect | EMAS | ISO 27018 |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Environmental performance management and reporting | PII protection in public cloud processing |
| Industry | All sectors, EU-focused voluntary scheme | Cloud service providers globally |
| Nature | Voluntary EU regulation with registration | Voluntary code of practice extending ISO 27001 |
| Testing | Independent verifier validation, annual statements | ISO 27001 audits with 27018 controls review |
| Penalties | Registration suspension or deletion | Loss of certification, no legal penalties |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about EMAS and ISO 27018
EMAS FAQ
ISO 27018 FAQ
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