Kadant U.K. Limited Achieves ISO 14001 Accreditation
Kadant U.K. Limited is proud to announce that it has been awarded the ISO 14001: Environment Management System (EMS) certification. In this interview, we speak with Mark Newton, senior safety, health, environment, and quality (SHEQ) and 80/20 manager at Kadant U.K., to discuss the significance of this accreditation, and how this will work in tandem with the existing ISO 9001: Quality Management System (QMS) certification.
FS: What is the ISO 14001 certification?
MN: ISO 14001 is an internationally recognised standard for environmental management systems. It guides companies in managing their environmental impact, and measures how you aim to become more environmentally conscious, whether through improving waste disposal procedures, using resources more efficiently, or reducing greenhouse gas emissions. For Kadant U.K., this certification is a testament to our commitment to sustainability and operational excellence.
FS: Why is this certification important to Kadant U.K.?
MN: As an engineering and manufacturing site, we are conscious of any impact we have on the environment. It is important to minimise this impact wherever possible and remind our stakeholders that we pay close attention to sustainability as one of our pillars of success.
The ISO 14001 certification enables us to reduce our overall environmental impact by adopting a system of smarter waste and resource use, while boosting operational efficiency, and ensuring that we remain compliant with current legislation.
FS: How will this certification work along Kadant U.K.’s existing ISO 9001 certification?
MN: The existing ISO 9001 QMS certification will work alongside the newly obtained ISO 14001 EMS certification as part of our Integrated Management System (IMS). This integration allows us to streamline processes, reaffirm compliance, and align environmental and quality focused objectives across all departments.
To do this, regular audits and reviews have been established to monitor processes and plans for continuous improvement, which will also help us stay efficient and compliant.
FS: Have there been any other benefits to introducing ISO 14001?
MN: Yes! Introducing these initiatives in line with ISO 14001 has already created a culture of accountability across the Kadant U.K. team. This has boosted morale, as each individual team member takes pride in their contribution to our sustainability efforts and feels they are making a positive impact.
We are expecting this certification to become increasingly relevant across all industries, and we are proud to be the first Kadant entity to welcome ISO 14001 into our daily practices and demonstrate how a culture of accountability and innovative practices can prove beneficial.
