The Louisiana Environmental Management Award (LEMA).
The Award Program is a voluntary program designed to support and assist Louisiana businesses to achieve environmental excellence through continuous improvement. The program encourages integration of environmental excellence into business operations and management practices through the establishment of a pollution prevention-based environmental management system. The Governor of Louisiana makes recognitions and awards annually to organizations that successfully participate in the program. Large and small organizations that have facilities in Louisiana may participate.

The Environmental Management Award is based on ISO 14001, the International Organization for Standardization's Environmental Management System standard, and EPA's National Environmental Performance Track.

The Award is co-sponsored by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality and the Louisiana Environmental Professionals Association.

There are three categories of awards:

Category I
Commitment Recognition. Organizations are in process of Environmental Management System development.

Category II
Achievement Recognition. Organizations which have the majority of Environmental Management System components in place.

Category III
Louisiana Environmental Management Excellence Award. Organizations which have all Environmental Management System components in place.