Abstract
The Eco-Management for Food Project (EMAF Project - PRIN No.2008TXFBYT co-funded by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research) has the purpose to design and implement a Product-Oriented Environmental Management System (POEMS) framework that is specified for the agri-food industry. The POEMS framework has a modular structure resulting from the integration of complementary environmental management tools: the underlying basis is an Integrated Quality and Environmental Management System, while the product orientation is provided by a Simplified Life Cycle Assessment and a suitable Environmental Product Label or Declaration chosen following guidelines for the environmental product communication. These tools have been specifically structured in order to satisfy the particular needs of organizations operating in the agri-food sector and their strengths and weaknesses are being evaluated through their implementation in different pilot food companies...