The Glass & Glazing Federation (GGF) has secured ISO14001 accreditation, a key step it says, towards the GGF Trade Federation taking a leading position on the path towards the glass and glazing industry becoming carbon neutral. ISO 14001 sets out the criteria for an environmental management system and maps out a framework that a company or organization can follow to set up an effective EMS (environmental management system).
Lauren Mawford, Group Health, Safety and Environmental Manager for the Glass & Glazing Federation, says that the GGF needed to prepare itself first before it offered leadership in environmental management: “It was understood that if the representative body for the glass and glazing industries was to take a lead position in offering guidance and leadership for its members to manage their environmental responsibilities, then it should gain appropriate accreditation itself,” said Lauren. “The glass and glazing industries must reduce their collective impact on the environment and the GGF will be developing a range of strategies and guidance to assist its members, and the industry in general, towards the ultimate goal of carbon neutrality.”
Benefits to GGF of ISO14001 accreditation include a commitment to developing environmentally friendly strategies in all aspects of the organisation, ensuring legislative and compliance awareness, developing employee engagement, and enhancement of the reputation of the GGF Group as an organisation that is committed to carbon reduction.
In gaining ISO14001 accreditation, GGF has also negotiated a small but worthwhile incentive for others to take this step, says Lauren: “GGF members wishing to undertake ISO14001 accreditation themselves can benefit from preferential rates on the fees…it may be small but we believe that every little helps. It doesn’t matter what type or size your organisation is, ISO 14001 is a great standard to have,” added Lauren. “If this is something you are interested in, please contact me lmawford@ggf.org.uk.”
