We are thrilled to announce we have been officially awarded with ISO 14001 certification, an internationally recognised standard for organisations that meet the strict requirements for their Environmental Management Systems (EMS).
After deciding to go through the internal processes and works necessary for compliance in early 2024, the team at our Banagher headquarters in Ireland worked tirelessly to achieve certification within a year, highlighting the effectiveness of the Management System already in place.
The ISO 14001 standard provides a framework for organisations to design and implement an effective EMS and continually improve their environmental performance, taking proactive measures to minimise their environmental impact, comply with 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.
This addition to the ISO certifications represents a major achievement for us in our accreditations. We have already been certified for our Quality Management (ISO 9001) since 2014 and for our Health & Safety (ISO 45001) since 2019, spearheaded by Shannon McDermott, our Quality and Health and Safety Manager, whose knowledge, dedication and support has proved invaluable throughout.
The latest achievement on recently being awarded the ISO 14001 completes our enduring commitment to quality, environmental management and occupational Health & Safety.
Speaking about some of the recent improvements and changes implemented by the business, Floriane Catillon, Sustainability Manager at Inland and Coastal, comments: “The ISO 14001 didn’t require us to make tremendous changes as many of our current practices already align with international standards. That said, any Management System comes with its challenges and the biggest one, I believe, is to get everyone engaged, which requires every department to be involved.
After working alongside consultant firm Antaris, the team was ready to take the next step to engage certification body SGS, who assigned an auditor to ensure we were meeting all the requirements of the ISO 14001 standard.
As a result, we have now successfully implemented a wealth of practices to improve our environmental impact. These include a more efficient method of segregating waste, greater awareness of hazardous substances and associated risks, and innovative methods for reducing and reusing the water system in our production facility.
A meaningful example of ISO 14001 in action is our repurposing of waste into construction material for Living Seawalls, we not only reduce our ecological footprint but also demonstrate a commitment to circular economy principles. This eco-friendly approach is a testament to our dedication to sustainability at every stage of the production cycle.
“We’re incredibly proud to support innovative projects like Living Seawalls that redefine how we interact with our coastlines,” says Oliver Shortall, Managing Director of ICMS. “By combining cutting-edge ecological engineering with sustainable construction, we’re not just protecting marine environments, we’re actively helping to regenerate them. This partnership reflects our ongoing commitment to creating greener, more resilient coastal infrastructure for future generations.”
We also created a biodiversity-friendly garden space encouraging pollinator species to flourish in accordance with the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan (AIPP) and recently installed Photovoltaic solar panels and EV charging points at the site.
“This accomplishment is the result of the dedication and hard work done over the last year,” adds Catillon. “It demonstrates that our processes are aligned with internationally recognised best practices for managing environmental impacts, reducing waste and promoting sustainability. This achievement is a significant milestone for us, and it highlights the continuous efforts of every team member to integrate environmental practices into our daily tasks.”
