Sustainability is more than just a buzzword; it’s a crucial aspect of doing business. As an ISO 14001 manufacturer, we are committed to sustainability and environmentally friendly business practices throughout our company. Achieving ISO 14001 certification is no small feat; only companies with effective environmental management systems (EMS) that undergo a rigorous process can achieve this global certification.

What is ISO 14001?

The full name of the standard is ISO 14001:2015 Environmental management systems — Requirements with guidance for use. It provides a framework for companies—like Arrow Tru-Line—to design, implement, and continually improve their environmental management systems. Because companies of different sizes and industries can be certified, it doesn’t provide environmental performance requirements. Still, the framework does help organizations improve their environmental performance through more efficient use of resources and waste reduction, gaining a competitive advantage and the trust of stakeholders.

Key components of ISO 14001 follow a plan-do-check-act (PDCA) cycle and include:

• Plan
  • Context of the Organization: Organizations must understand the external and internal issues that can affect the EMS, including environmental conditions, legal requirements, and stakeholder expectations.
  • Leadership: Top management’s involvement is crucial. They must demonstrate leadership and commitment by integrating the EMS into business processes and ensuring the availability of necessary resources.
  • Planning: Organizations must identify environmental aspects and impacts, legal and other requirements, and set objectives and plans to achieve them. Risk-based thinking is emphasized to prevent or mitigate undesirable effects.
• Do
  
  • Support: Organizations must have the necessary resources, including competence, awareness, communication, and documented information, in place to support the EMS.
  • Operation: They must also plan and control processes to meet environmental management system requirements, including operational control, emergency preparedness, and response.
• Check
  • Performance Evaluation: Monitoring, measuring, analyzing, and evaluating environmental performance is critical. Organizations must conduct internal audits and management to ensure the EMS’s effectiveness.
• Act
  • Improvement: Opportunities for improvement must be evaluated, and actions must be implemented to achieve the intended outcomes. Continual improvement is a core principle of ISO 14001:2015.

 

Certification to the standard is done by a third-party certification body. Certification demonstrates that we have implemented the standard effectively and have a robust environmental management system in place that complies with the standard’s requirements.

What Is Involved With Certification?

The steps for achieving ISO 14001:2015 certification involve a rigorous and demanding structured process to ensure an organization meets the requirements of the standard. It takes commitment and investment. The steps include the following:

• Gap Analysis—To identify gaps, existing environmental management practices are compared against ISO 14001 requirements.
• Develop Action Plan— A plan is created to address identified gaps and align with ISO 14001 standards.
• Leadership Commitment—Top management must understand and commit to implementing the EMS.
• Resource Allocation—To support the EMS implementation, necessary resources must be allocated, including time, budget, and personnel.
• Training and Awareness—Employees must be trained on the requirements of ISO 14001, the importance of the EMS, and the environmental policy and objectives.
• Documentation—Necessary documentation, including the environmental policy, objectives, and procedures, and a document control system to manage them must be created.
• Implementation— The action plan must be implemented to address gaps and establish the EMS.
• Operational Controls—Operational controls must be implemented to manage significant environmental aspects and comply with legal requirements.
• Internal Audits—Internal audits must be conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the EMS and compliance with ISO 14001. Any non-conformities or areas for improvement identified during audits must be addressed.
• Management Review – Management must review the EMS performance, considering internal audit results and other relevant data.
• Continuous Improvement—The organization must decide on necessary changes and improvements to the EMS.
• Certification Audit—Some organizations opt for a pre-assessment by a certification body to identify any last-minute issues before the formal certification audit. The official certification audit is a two-stage process. During the stage 1 audit, the certification body reviews the EMS documentation and preparedness for the stage 2 audit. During the stage 2 audit, the certification body conducts an on-site audit to verify the EMS’s implementation and effectiveness.
• Certification Decision—The certification body provides a report detailing any non-conformities and areas for improvement. If the organization meets the requirements, the certification body grants ISO 14001:2015 certification.
• Surveillance Audits—The certification body conducts periodic surveillance audits to ensure continued compliance with the standard.
• Recertification— The organization must undergo a recertification audit every three years to maintain ISO 14001 certification.

What Are The Benefits of Working With An  ISO 14001 Manufacturer

An ISO 14001-certified manufacturer is signaling to its customers, employees, vendors, and all that it interacts with that it is taking active measures and making real investments to minimize its environmental impact. It demonstrates the manufacturer’s commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainability, which benefits customers who share the same values or have their own sustainability initiatives. When customers work with us, an ISO 14001 manufacturer, it supports their corporate social responsibility goals and initiatives, aligning with sustainability and environmental responsibility values. This alignment can provide a competitive edge in markets where environmental credentials are increasingly important.

This certification often leads to improved resource management and waste reduction, resulting in cost savings that can be passed on to customers through more competitive pricing. Additionally, partnering with an ISO 14001-certified manufacturer builds trust with stakeholders, including customers, who value environmental stewardship.

ISO 14001 certification requires ongoing improvement, meaning we continually seek ways to enhance our environmental performance. This focus on continuous improvement and risk mitigation contributes to a stable and reliable partnership, fostering long-term relationships.

Overall, the structured approach of ISO 14001 fosters a resilient business partner capable of maintaining high standards and adapting to environmental challenges, contributing to a more stable and dependable supply chain. By choosing an ISO 14001-certified manufacturer, prospective customers can gain a reliable partner committed to sustainability and continuous improvement, ultimately enhancing their own business operations and market reputation.

Arrow Tru-Line: An ISO 14001 Certified Manufacturer

As an ISO-certified manufacturer, we understand the impact of minimizing our environmental footprint and prioritize sustainability throughout our business. Partnering with us signifies a shared commitment to sustainability.

To receive certification, we went through a rigorous process. We evaluated all facets within our organization to identify, quantify, and ultimately reduce the amount of impact our business has on the environment. We performed a complete environmental stream assessment from suppliers through our customer base to determine our carbon footprint to further push the boundaries of promoting a business culture conducive to the preservation of our environment.

The resulting environmental policy states that we are committed to leading the industry in minimizing the impact of our activities on the environment through:

• Setting environmental objectives by evaluating operations and ensuring they are as efficient and effective as possible.
• Minimize toxic emissions through the selection and use of our fleet and the source of our power requirement.
• Actively promote recycling both internally and amongst our customers and suppliers.
• Source and promote the prevention of pollution with a product range that minimizes the environmental impact of both production and distribution.
• Be the industry leader and meet or exceed all the environmental legislation that relates to us through continuous improvement.

 When you need high-quality garage door components manufactured with a focus on preserving our planet, Arrow Tru-Line should be your first call. Contact us to learn more.