Safetyshop Awarded Internationally Recognised ISO 14001-2004 Environmental Standard

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Released on: June 22, 2011, 3:57 am
Author: Safetyshop
Industry: Environment

Safetyshop, the UK’s leading manufacturer of safety signs and major supplier of health & safety equipment, achieves ISO 14001-2004 Environmental Management System (EMS) accreditation.

ISO 14001 EMS is an internationally recognised environmental standard awarded to businesses that illustrate objective evidence to ISO 14001 standard requirements. This includes identifying environmental impacts and steps to reduce their effects.

To achieve this prestigious industry standard Safetyshop had to demonstrate exceptional commitment to its environment management system.

EMS refers to the management of environmental performance that can be monitored, improved and controlled. It acts as a framework that focuses on continuous environmental improvement.

John Suthons, UK Quality Environmental Health &Safety Manager, says ‘ISO 14001 has helped Safetyshop to become more environmentally responsible and proactive in driving environmental improvement. To meet the requirements of ISO 14001 our EMS had to demonstrate continual environmental improvement in areas such as energy, water and waste management, packaging, paper and hazardous substance control’.

Safetyshop has completed a number of environmental continuous improvement projects and a number are still ongoing. Here is an account of Safetyshop’s environmental projects:

Continuous environmental improvement projects Safetyshop has:
• introduced a Vickers energy management system to control its gas heating system - this will guarantee a saving of 30% gas usage
• implemented a dry mix recycling compactor for general waste management - this increases recycling by 75% and reduces general waste to landfill
• an ongoing paper consumption project – this reduces the number of printed pages in direct mail catalogues
• fitted low energy luminaire lighting in its recently refurbished warehouse – this reduces the level of electricity usage
• an ongoing packaging consumption project – this reduces in-house packaging as well as packaging brought in from suppliers
• increased the use of UV inks from solvent inks in its sign manufacturing process - this has reduced the amount of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions and hazardous chemical waste produced

Safetyshop’s energy efficiency success
As part of the British Printing Industries Federation (BPIF) climate change levy reduction scheme Safetyshop is required to report on energy use annually. The potential for lower levies incentivise companies to reduce carbon emissions. The success of Safetyshop’s energy initiatives was demonstrated in 2007 when throughput increased by over 20% while gas and electricity consumption actually fell by 2%.

Environmental issues are particularly central to the direct mail industry as a whole. Safetyshop wanted to respond positively by developing a business framework that puts sustainability at its core.

Peter Smart, UK Direct Mail General Manager, said ‘we are keen to be a part of environmental sustainability and want our customers and suppliers to know we are serious about environmental issues.’

Notes to editor | About Safetyshop
Safetyshop was established in 1970 and through various acquisitions has become the leading safety products manufacturer in the UK, producing a range of more than 18,000 products at its 34,000 square foot facility in Stockport, Cheshire. All of Safetyshop’s signs are manufactured in the UK and as well as ensuring all products meet with current health and safety legislation, the business is making huge strides towards creating products from environmentally-friendly materials, using environmentally-friendly methods.

ENDS