Certification to BS EN ISO14001 can provide a degree of risk management for electrical manufacturers.
The electro-technical manufacturing sector selling goods in Europe has a number of formidable ‘eco’ Directives to consider when they manufacture their products. Firstly the Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive 2002/96/EC requiring all producers of electrical and electronic goods to be responsible for the collection, treatment, recycling and recovery of waste equipment to minimise it’s impact on the environment. Secondly the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive 2002/95/EC that requires that new electrical and electronic equipment must not contain harmful substance such as lead and mercury. And thirdly there is the upcoming Energy-Using Products (EUP) Directive that requires manufacturers at each phase of the production process to assess the consumption of energy and materials that the product requires as well as emissions to the environment, pollution, expected waste and ways of recycling it.
Compliance with some or all of these Directives is required for electrical and electronic products placed on the market in Europe, so Manufacturers will need to find ways of meeting their regulatory responsibilities in a structured and efficient way.
Environmental legislation isn’t a new phenomenon. EN ISO 14001 has provided an environmental benchmark for more than a decade but it has taken many years for manufacturers to buy into the concept of being certified to this Standard. With more environmental legislation affecting their business than ever before it provides a proven framework in which to monitor, assess and reduce the impact that they have on the ecology of our planet and a methodology that they can apply to compliance with the new Directives.
ISO 14001 is respected throughout the world, providing compelling documentary evidence of environmental best practice that can be used by the manufacturer to demonstrate their green credentials.
The latest version of the standard contains plainer language than it’s predecessor and more comprehensive details of the information that needs to be collected and reviewed. These modifications to the standard are complimented by its additional greater compatibility with ISO 9001- that makes certification to ISO 14001 a more than logical choice for manufacturers looking to manage their environmental procedures, as the administration of the two systems is very similar.
The need to adopt an environmental management system to bring coherence to a company’s environmental policies has never been more pressing as the eyes of the world shift towards our fragile planet. Our population is growing and the demand for electronic goods means manufacturing activity is increasing to a level that has a potential to threaten human, animal and plant life.
New laws and a greater awareness of environmental issues mean that Manufacturers are taking more responsibility for their environmental impact. ISO 14001 Certification provides a framework in which they can take stock of their environmental footprint and identify ways of reducing it. Enforcement authorities are taking environmental issues more seriously and the policing of ‘eco’ regulations is becoming stricter with the increase in the application of penalties based on ‘the polluter pays’ principle – one that isn’t always structured around money. Having ISO 14001 Certification not only provides a proven infrastructure that will help manufacturers to focus on the new environmental Directives but it also gives a degree of risk management, by minimising the chances of such penalties by providing a robust defence against accusations of environmental liability.
ISO 14001 has a number of other benefits aside from risk management that make it a good to be green:
* Manufacturers can save money by making better use of their existing resources. Energy and fuel costs can often be reduced and making workers more aware of what they are using will encourage them to be more resourceful and more efficient.
* Then there is recycling. This maximises the value of existing resources and minimises the physical waste being put back into the environment.
* Being environmentally aware is good for a company’s image and public relations.
* It enables manufacturers to demonstrate their environmental commitment, provides added value to products and helps to differentiate them in the marketplace.
With such a mechanism as ISO 14001 in place manufacturers can be confident that they are addressing their environmental responsibilities by having an effective way to manage their activities under new and existing environmental legislation, that they are defending themselves from environmental liability claims and contributing towards genuine environmental sustainability, which benefits everyone - locally, nationally and internationally.
For more information on ISO 14001 Certification, contact your existing ISO provider or your local certification body.