How Smarter Waste Management Led to ISO 14001 Certification
For food manufacturers, the demand for verifiable sustainability has never been stronger. With consumers and clients increasingly scrutinising supply chains, a robust environmental strategy is no longer a choice— it’ s a prerequisite to stay competitive. In fact, client demands for environmental compliance are the top motivator for companies seeking ISO 14001 certification, the international standard for an effective environmental management system( EMS).
The efficient management of complex waste streams is therefore a vital task for any manufacturer on this journey, as demonstrated in the following case study- celebrating how Drurys Engineering secured their ISO 14001 accreditation with the support of Waste Mission.
How Waste Mission Supported Drurys Engineering, an Amcomri PLC Group Company, In Achieving ISO 14001 Certification
Hertfordshire-based Drurys Engineering was preparing for ISO14001 accreditation and significant production growth, but the team recognised that their waste management system would not keep pace.
After dealing with their scrap metal efficiently for years, Drurys asked the Waste Mission team if they could support them with other waste streams, helping the company to work towards their ISO 14001 status.
Mike Danson, Operations Manager of Drurys, says‘ Over the past year, Waste Mission has played a critical and integral role in our ISO 14001 implementation journey. Their
96 FDPP- www. fdpp. co. uk expertise and support ensured our waste streams are not only managed efficiently and in line with legislative requirements but also optimised through the implementation of new waste management technology on-site. This collaboration has even allowed us to increase the value of some of our recyclable waste streams.’
Through a thorough waste review process on site, it was revealed that waste management would be enhanced through further segregation on site. The efficiency of space use on site was also identified as an area for improvement. After a backlog of aluminium swarf and oil containers was recycled, additional containers were introduced to maintain an ongoing and efficient waste segregation and collection schedule.
Waste Mission’ s solutions
1- Processing swarf: Acting on Waste Mission’ s advice, Drurys installed a pucking machine which not only compacts aluminium swarf into‘ pucks’( briquettes) but also separates fluids and oils associated with the cutting process, such as coolants.
2- Waste segregation: Another key step forward was segregating different types of waste to make them easier to dispose of and recycle.
3- Streamlining collections: In keeping with its strong focus on sustainability, Waste Mission now collects some of Drurys’ other waste streams alongside its scrap metal to reduce vehicle movements and collections’ carbon footprint.
4- Increasing transparency and visibility: Drurys is now utilising the Waste Mission customer portal, which provides the team with full visibility across all their recycling metrics, helping them pass waste management audits and demonstrate compliance with environmental regulations.
A shared commitment through collaboration
Mike Danson, Operations Manager of Drurys, says:‘ Drurys Engineering Ltd is delighted to announce its successful implementation of ISO 14001 certification, achieved on the first attempt with no nonconformances. This significant accomplishment was made possible through our longstanding and exceptional partnership with Waste Mission.
For many years, Waste Mission has been an invaluable partner, consistently providing friendly, helpful, and supportive waste management services. Their commitment to excellence has been instrumental in enabling Drurys’ continuous business improvement.’
Robert Pepperell, Commercial Manager of Waste Mission, says:‘ The importance of recycling metal is stronger today than at any other point in our 40-year history in the sector. It has been hugely rewarding to collaborate with another local company with similar values in ways that have streamlined its waste management processes, improved its sustainability and boosted its bottom line. Our proactive account management style means we can also prompt for collections when in the area, or give cheaper alternatives when a request is made.”
If you’ d like to find out how Waste Mission can help your business, book a no-obligation waste review today.