The discussion paper investigates the innovation effects of environmental management sys-tems. The following questions are addressed: Which factors influence the innovation impacts? What kind of innovation is caused? What impacts the innovations have on competitiveness? Literature on environmental management, innovation (environmental and organisational innova-tion), strategic management, organisational learning and indicators of business success is sur-veyed. Based on the literature survey, an impact model is developed. It shows the internal and external factors influencing the implementation of innovations and the impacts caused by the environmental innovations. Additionally, hypotheses for further research on this topic are developed.