Background The revisions introduced by the new EMAS Regulation 761/2001, identify EMAS as a key strategic instrument for implementing local policies intended to improve the environmental performance of territorial areas. The application of EMAS to industrial areas has been trialled in a few areas of Italy and elsewhere in Europe. A good example is the Bayer Production Pole in Filago, Italy, where four companies with a diversity of productive activities signed an agreement to appoint an inter-company environmental committee. Another recent case is the EMAS registration of the tourism area of Bibione. Other examples include the Gendorf Chemical Pole in Bavaria where companies worked closely together. All of these experiences, however, were based on a broad interpretation of the concept of an industrial site, which was taken to mean “extended site” (comprising the total number of industrial sites located in the area), and was therefore not applicable as such to a wider territorial cluster. The EMAS regulation recommends that local authorities work together with private-sector stakeholders in order to share the results of the analysis made of the environmental situation in the area. Finally, SMEs can use the information provided by the local authorities or intermediate institutions to define their environmental programmes and set the objectives and targets of their EMAS management systems. Annex I B to the EMAS Regulation points out that organisations can base their actions on local, regional and national environmental programmes. Companies have the opportunity to rely on actions of a collective nature. Objectives The aim of the PIONEER project was to test a methodology based on the EMAS Regulation at the paper industry territorial cluster of Lucca in Tuscany, Italy. Several industrial and non-industrial organisations (local authorities, service providers) would implement an environmental management system in compliance with EMAS by means of co-operative and collective actions such as common procedures, shared resources and collaborative training initiatives. The methodology fosters a co-operative and integrated approach to environmental management at a local level by involving all the relevant stakeholders in actions for the improvement of the territory’s environmental performance. One target of the project was to bring EMAS registration to half of the 35 organisations that were selected during the project. The beneficiary, Amministrazione Provinciale di Lucca, planned to co-ordinate the project in partnership with a local paper industry, universities, associations and the municipality of Pescia. Results One of the first important objectives achieved by the PIONEER project was the number of organisation that achieved EMAS registration. The PIONEER project brought 18 organisations to the EMAS registration – 86% of the those registered in the Lucca province and 33% at regional level, during the project’s lifetime. These organisations represent service companies (ENEL Produzione Unità Business Idroelettrica (UBI) – Asta del Serchio and Aquapur Multiservizi), businesses (mainly paper-industries as Delicarta S.p.A., Cartiera Kartocell Srl, SCA Packaging Italia) and public bodies (as Comune di Fabbriche di Vallico). A complete list is available also on the website (http://www.life pioneer.info/2_organizzazioni.php). The project also successfully demonstrated the applied methodology: a co-operative and integrated approach designed to involve all stakeholders in activities to improve environmental performance in the area. This integrated territorial approach to EMAS, the central aspect of the PIONEER project, formed the basis for the proposal to revise the EMAS Regulation. PIONEER suggests awarding some form of environmental recognition to bodies represented by a homogeneous production area. A representative body, the Promotion Committee, was set up to co-ordinate and create synergies between the different actors in the territory. Members of the committee were chosen from within each participating organisation and represent the principal public and private actors in the area. The Promotion Committee overseas activities aimed at applying EMAS. It also ensures integrated management and promotes the utilisation of processes and available resources within the district. Other important results necessary for EMAS certification included carrying out an initial territorial review of the cluster area, producing a cluster environmental policy and programme, setting up a cluster environmental management system and carrying out a cluster environmental audit. The resulting Cluster Environmental Statement serves as a point of reference and acts as a support tool for organisations in the province that want to join EMAS.