Businesses that possess the ISO 14001 standard
belong to an exclusive club of only 10,000 or so members spread
throughout the UK. But as corporate responsibility becomes more
than just a fashionable phrase and tenders become more competitive,
attaining the internationally recognised standard of good
environmental management can give businesses the edge.
Any business can work towards the
certification – no matter what its shape, size or sector. The
standard demonstrates that a business has identified the
environmental impact of its activities, products and services and
implemented an environmental management system to improve
performance and help ensure compliance. All of which it may be
crucial to verify when successfully securing valuable
contracts.
Compliance with environmental law is one of
the greatest hurdles to overcome in going for the registration,
simply because of the sheer volume of legislation to consider. Not
all pieces of legislation will apply to every business, but the
number of amendments makes identifying what is relevant to a
particular business very tricky for a novice.
“One of the most beneficial aspects of
Mentor’s Environmental Service is that we’re able to give our
clients a register of legal and other requirements,” says Chris
Wilson, Environmental Consultant for Mentor. “We can explain how
the legislation applies to their business and discuss in detail
what they must do next. Often we’ll also evaluate their compliance,
so that the client is aware of any issues, particularly where more
technical elements of the law are concerned.”
HIGHER SIGHTS
In 2010, Chris was involved in helping CMS
Group to attain ISO 14001 certification in record time. Typically,
most businesses aim to achieve the standard within a year; CMS
Group set its sights higher and completed the process in just six
months. Key services delivered by the UK-wide facilities management
company include waste management, contract cleaning and contract
window cleaning. Managing Director Peter Moss was keen to
demonstrate to clients the company’s own competence in those areas
on which it advises.
CMS Group is an established Mentor client,
regularly turning to the Employment Law & HRand Health &
Safety Services for support. According to Peter, the Environment
Service has been similarly useful to the company.
He says: “Mentor’s input was valuable in
deciding how best to structure ISO 14001 in terms of how we operate
as a business. Chris’s input was very commercially aware and
constructive. He looked at the issues from the point of view of
what was right for our business, giving careful thought to
commercial and financial considerations.”
COMPLIANCE AUDIT
Many companies will automatically comply with
some of the ISO 14001 requirements because they are also legal
duties. Other aspects might not be considered unless the business
is aware of what’s required for certification. Chris first
completed an audit to uncover any compliance issues and identify
the gaps between where CMS Group was and where the company wanted
to be, before designing an environmental management system in
collaboration with senior management. He also delivered in-house
environmental awareness training to staff.
The ISO 14001 project provided a platform for
the company to measure what it does. Following discussions with
Chris it decided on a plan of action, as Mark Daniels, Sales and
Marketing Manager, explains. “We have been very busy over the last
few months identifying not only how we can meet the high
environmental targets we set ourselves, but how we can exceed
them.
“We have invested in VW Blue Motion vehicles
across the national fleet. We have also equipped all our operatives
with sophisticated PDAs. These have software specifically developed
for CMS Group which allocates jobs, provides an electronic sign-off
– replacing the paper-based system – and incorporates a route
planning application that maximises fuel and cost efficiency. We
have also installed the latest reach-and-wash systems in all window
cleaning vehicles and conducted a national retraining exercise to
ensure operatives deliver the highest standards of window cleaning,
while conserving water.”
Mark has spoken to a number of clients, both
new and long-term, and they have been very impressed with the
investments CMS Group has made. In particular, the PDAs have
received notable praise.
He adds: “We’ve designed a website linked to
our Helpdesk where jobs are recorded; as soon as the job is
completed the location, date, time and signature of the person
signing off the clean is uploaded. Clients can access the site, and
see the jobs planned and completed.
“We are committed to continuous improvement
and how we can reduce our effect on the environment. We discuss
this internally and with clients at review meetings.” The company
is also committed to using the environmentally friendly option
wherever it can and in some cases it has totally eliminated the use
of chemicals.
Aiming for the standard has also had a positive
impact on the way people in CMS Group go about their work. Office
Manager Lindsay Hadfield notes: “Achieving ISO 14001 standard means
our staff can see tangible value in the processes and procedures we
advise clients on. It has allowed them to speak more confidently
when dealing with the day-to-day environmental queries we’re faced
with, and means they can offer advice and guidance they really
believe in.
“Documenting our processes and procedures in a
structured way has meant we can all share in the knowledge gained
individually by employees. Ongoing reviews of the system mean we
always have a forum in which staff can raise environmental issues
and it reassures them of the importance we attach to continuous
improvement.”
KEY REQUIREMENT
One of the key requirements of ISO 14001 is
for the business to continually improve its performance from an
environmental perspective. Mentor helps companies to do this by
setting various targets based on the business’s greatest impacts.
CMS Group stored cleaning products on its premises. This was
reviewed in line with the company’s health & safety policy and
the goal was set to see if CMS could instead have its suppliers
deliver consumables directly to clients’ premises, reducing
transport costs and removing on-site health & safety risks.
Following successful trials with suppliers, this system was put in
place.
“We see Mentor as a department – as an
extension of our team,” Peter Moss says. “Whether it’s to request
support for our internal HR team, help with training or assistance
with the ISO 14001 project, there’s never a day that goes by that
we’re not speaking to Mentor in one way or another. It’s worked out
very well for us.”
CMS Group will be re-audited this year. Like
any business that achieves the standard, the company must
demonstrate that it’s still managing all of the requirements,
conducting internal audits and identifying compliance issues.
Says Chris: “It’s another key aspect of the
Environment Service that we help people to stick to the ISO 14001
requirements as well as to achieve the certification in the first
place.”
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