Environmental protection, energy reduction, CO2 reduction and high quality – these four factors go hand in hand at ENNEATECH. So, after the quality and energy management certifications according to ISO 9001 and 50001, what could be more obvious than to also have the environmental management certified according to ISO 14001? Ilona Peters, responsible for quality management, summarises our motivation: “More and more customers are asking for ISO 14001. For us, climate and environmental protection is the DNA of our corporate philosophy. This certification was, therefore, the next logical step”
The overarching management structures for environmental certification were already largely in place at ENNEATECH as a result of the other two certifications. Responsibilities, areas of responsibility, internal structures and the sensitisation and know-how of employees were already in place thanks to numerous training courses on the topics of the environment, energy and sustainability. “Of course, we have supplemented processes and optimised work instructions with regard to environmental aspects as a result of the ISO 14001 certification. With environmental certification, we look at our processes from a different perspective. This has heightened the awareness of all of us,” says Peters, describing the positive internal effects.
To obtain a quick overview of all processes, responsibilities, work instructions and all other documents, ENNEATECH is introducing software in which all this is stored. Ilona Peters explains the appeal behind the system as follows: “The requirements of the three management systems are similar in many respects, but not identical. We can link the processes stored in the software with the respective management system. In future, we will receive all the information relating to the respective system with just one click.” The advantage is obvious, as all employees can be informed transparently about what is required, when, where and how. Potential for improvement can thus be uncovered quickly. And it will also be easier for future audits, as the auditors will have the necessary information immediately to hand.
Obtaining ISO 14001 certification also means setting environmental targets – and defining how these are to be achieved. Saving resources, minimising waste, reducing energy requirements, reducing CO2 – ENNEATECH has been implementing many of these goals for a long time and has already formulated them in its corporate policy. The ISO 50001 certification provided a lot of impetus for energy savings, which ENNEATECH has long since realised. Certification as a specialised waste management company also benefits ISO 14001. To this end, the company scrutinises all material flows every year and has developed strategies to achieve zero waste. And yet, from Ilona Peters’ point of view, a company always benefits from ISO 14001 certification, because: “For us, for example, this has given us the impetus to think even more about CO2 reduction beyond our operational system boundaries. For us to define specifically where we can still save emissions in Scope 2 and 3. I think that every company can take something away from the introduction of the various management systems.”
