“Due to the lack of guidance and structure and the added costs of creating an environmental management system (EMS), few companies chose to implement one. Today, however, the world has changed dramatically. Approximately 10 000 companies worldwide, including large US-based companies such as Ford and IBM, have been registered to ISO 14001. As market pressure takes over, more companies are considering the international environmental standard a necessary business tool,” explained Louis Miller, one of four family members that run the 18-year-old foundry that was established in 2006.
“Earlier in the year when we announced the company’s restructuring and upgrading of manufacturing facilities we also introduced our new slogan: Knights Foundry – Creating Metal Perfection One Pour At A Time. Achieving ISO 14001 certification fits in perfectly with our ambitions.”
“For companies and organisations of any type that require practical tools to manage their environmental responsibilities, there’s the ISO 14000 family. International Standards on environmental management provide tools for a strategic approach to environmental issues. The best-known such standard is ISO 14001, setting out the criteria for an environmental management system. Together with a set of supporting documents it forms the ISO 14000 family of standards.”
Knights Foundry has achieved environmental certification in international standard ISO 14001
“While there are several environmental standards, ISO 14001 stands out as it provides a holistic framework for an environmental management system, encompassing all aspects of an organisation’s environmental impact and offering tools for continuous improvement.”
“ISO 14001 specifies the requirements for organisations that want to enhance their environmental performance and increase their operational efficiency.”
What is ISO 14001?
“Created in 1996 by the International Organisation for Standardisation, ISO 14001 standards are part of a family of standards (ISO 14000) designed to promote and guide an environmental management approach. It is appropriate for any kind of organisation (company, NGOs, union, etc) concerned about improving its system of production, management, and operations as a way to better control its environmental impacts.”
“ISO 14001 is the internationally recognised standard for EMS. It provides a framework for organisations to design and implement an EMS, and continually improve their environmental performance. By adhering to this standard, organisations can ensure they are taking proactive measures to minimise their environmental footprint, comply with relevant legal requirements, and achieve their environmental objectives. The framework encompasses various aspects, from resource usage and waste management to monitoring environmental performance and involving stakeholders in environmental commitments.”
Why is ISO 14001 important?
“In an age of heightened environmental consciousness and increasing global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and resource depletion, organisations have a pivotal role to play. ISO 14001 offers a structured approach for businesses to address these pressing concerns. By adopting this standard, organisations signal a commitment not only to regulatory compliance but also to ongoing environmental improvement. This proactive approach to environmental management can result in tangible benefits, such as reduced waste, energy conservation, and cost savings.”
“Furthermore, it enhances an organisation’s reputation, fosters stakeholder trust, and often constitutes a critical step for engaging in global trade and supply chains. Simply put, ISO 14001 stands as a testament to an organisation’s dedication to a sustainable future, blending environmental responsibility with strategic business growth.”
“There are many more benefits but the main ones are enhanced environmental performance,
regulatory compliance, risk management, cost savings, operational excellence and stakeholder and customer trust.”
“We believe that businesses have a critical role to play in addressing the global climate emergency, and we are taking action to reduce our environmental footprint to help build a more sustainable future. In line with this commitment, we are proud to announce that we have achieved certification for the environmental management system (EMS) in accordance with ISO 14001.”
“The ISO 14001 certification proves our dedication to long-term sustainable development, and it demonstrates our commitment to meeting environmental standards, reducing environmental impacts, and improving energy efficiency.”
“We will not only adhere to the standards that are now manageable with our full management system on environmental issues on site, but also commit to upholding these standards through yearly auditing processes.”
Supplier compliance
“Market pressure is now the dominant force driving ISO 14001 registrations. This is no surprise, considering that many of the 10 000 companies worldwide registered to ISO 14001 are asking suppliers if they’re registered to the standard. To maintain their customer base and continue to compete in a global economy, many companies must register to ISO 14001.”
In short
“When ISO 14001 was first published, companies voluntarily sought registration to the standard for various reasons, such as increased profitability. Today, many large multinational companies are asking their suppliers to comply with or register to the standard. Once registered, many companies find that the EMS has many financial benefits, and this increased profitability becomes the impetus for keeping the system operating well.”
For further details contact Knights Foundry on TEL: 011 827 2517 or visit https://knightsfoundry.com or https://castingssa.com/knights-sales-cc
