scope:

Purpose of the guideline

The present VDI guideline provides guidance to businesses of any kind and size, intending to

• develop
• implement
• use, and
• continuously refine

an environmental-index system.

Businesses, or parts thereof, shall be enabled to determine the relevant environmental indices and join them together in an index system.

Rather than dictating a fixed framework to the user, the guideline is intended to provide specific guidance to the user in elaborating his own index system by means of a procedure which is based on questions. All relevant steps are described in detail using "waste management" as an example.

On the whole, the present VDI guideline is to be understood as a practically proven aid. It is not in the least intended to restrict the freedom of any business to make their own decisions.