» ULTRAFRAME HAS BEEN recognised for its commitment to reducing its environmental footprint when it was recently awarded the ISO 14001:2015 certification . The accreditation specifies the requirements for an environmental management system ( EMS ) that an organisation can use to enhance its environmental performance through more efficient use of resources and reduction of waste .

Ultraframe Operations Director , Andy Crowe , said : “ Every business has a moral responsibility to ensure that it is doing everything it can to

positively influence change and its impact on the environment , and that is something that is of utmost importance to all of us here at Ultraframe . It has taken 16 months of hard work from commencing the project to completing the Stage 2 audit and being recommended for accreditation with a cross-functional team comprising members of the Senior Leadership Team , QHSE Team , and the Waste Team involved in the project . Minimising our impact on the environment is a huge part of everything we do , with many of our systems using manufacturing processes that eliminate or minimise waste . The core concept of ISO 14001 is that organisations must develop a clear set of environmental policies and then use a set of best practices

to proactively monitor whether those policies are being adhered to , and continuously improve the system based on ongoing feedback and results . We are now on a three-year surveillance cycle with 2.5 days ’ worth of external auditing by BSI per year which will form a key part of our environmental journey . We are thrilled that this ongoing commitment to minimising our impact on the environment has been recognised with us being awarded the coveted ISO 14001:2015 certification .”

Since the introduction of ISO 14001 in 1996 , it has been adopted by over 300,000 organisations , ranging from small businesses to some of the world ’ s largest firms . As with all ISO standards , ISO 14001 is not a specific set of instructions to be narrowly executed by the participating firm but is more a set of guidelines and standards that must be tailored to the specific needs and circumstances of each individual organisation .

ultraframe-conservatories . co . uk

» ECOVADIS IS THE world ’ s largest and most trusted provider of business sustainability ratings . Freefoam ’ s Silver sustainability rating puts it in the top 25 % of companies assessed globally by EcoVadis in 2023 .

EcoVadis awards recognise companies that have completed its rigorous assessment process and demonstrated a robust management system to address sustainability . The medals rate companies relative to other businesses assessed by EcoVadis and provide an actionable roadmap for continuous improvement .

To earn an EcoVadis medal , companies must meet a minimum score on environment , ethics , labour and human rights , and sustainable procurement . They must also meet specific and rigorous licensing and eligibility criteria .

Freefoam scored especially well on its environmental performance , significantly higher than the industry average .

Some of Freefoam ’ s environmental strengths include having commitments and operational objectives to manage environmental risks , the use of recovered input materials , energy efficiency through

technology and equipment optimisation , and providing end of life solutions .

Colin St John , Freefoam ’ s Commercial Director comments : “ Our approach to sustainability is anchored in the principles of the Circular Economy , carbon reduction , and continuous improvement . We ’ re enabling the re-use and circulation of resources , retaining economic value , and eliminating waste . The EcoVadis Silver medal shows our commitment to Building a Sustainable Future for our business and our supply chain .”

Learn more about Freefoam ’ s sustainability initiatives and read case studies at freefoam . com / professional / sustainability-archive

www . freefoam . com

52 NOVEMBER 2023

CLEARVIEW-UK . COM