Leading British lead sheet manufacturer Midland Lead is one of the first in the lead industry to have been awarded the new ISO 14001 2015 Environmental Management accreditation by the British Standards Institution (BSI).
With a high commitment to reducing environmental impact, the company received the updated ISO ahead of schedule in December 2016, having only been audited by the BSI the previous month.
Initially accredited ISO 14001 in 2006, the internationally accepted standard outlines the most effective ways to put a successful environmental management system (EMS) in place.
In a bid to support emissions reductions in the UK, Midland Lead’s recent improvements include investment in a new energy efficient crane for the company’s refining plant, truck upgrades, purchasing five Autogas (LPG)-operated forklifts, which reduce CO2 exhaust emissions, and replacing halogen light bulbs with LED light bulbs across the factory.
Midland Lead’s managing director Boudewijn Tuinenburg says: “It’s fantastic to have been awarded the updated ISO so soon after being audited.
“This certification delivers more than regulatory compliance and the ability to meet supplier requirements. ISO 14001 also helps us make our day-to-day operations more sustainable, which as well as being great for the environment, also saves the business money and engages our employees.”
Introduced in July 2015, one of the major changes to ISO 14001 2015 is a focus on identifying lifecycles, with the aim of getting organisations to consider their wider impact, from cradle to grave, by using their environmental influence throughout their supply chains.
In addition to Midland Lead’s factory and supply chain improvements, the ISO’s updates align with the very nature of the company’s lead sheet product, which is expected to last more than 60 years and is made from 100 percent recycled lead.
With the Government’s 2020 drive for vehicles to be more energy efficient, ISO 14001 also encourages a positive ethos of continual improvement. “As a company, the environment is in the forefront of our minds with everything we do and we’re committed to becoming as energy efficient as possible,” says Boudewijn.
“So while we have passed this audit with flying colours, there is always more that can be done to decrease our environmental impact,” he explains, adding that the firm is currently exploring new technologies such as heat exchange and gas turbines to further maximise the way in which energy is used in manufacturing processes.
Furthering their commitment to reducing environmental impact, Midland Lead’s risk and performance manager, Diane Rainsford, recently passed her lead environmental auditor training. Accredited by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) and the International Register of Certificated Auditors (IRCA), this qualification allows Diane to audit all of the company’s suppliers, ensuring products are of a high quality and minimise damage to the environment.
