BUSINESS STANDARDS
is the quarterly magazine of BSI Group, highlighting the vital role that standards play in today's business environment. Regular features include interviews with leading business figures, as well as news on the latest developments in management systems and standards.
Green with envy
28 Jan 2008
Topics: ISO 14001, Awards, Environment
Think your business has really gone green? Then why not send in your nomination for the BSI British Standards ISO 14001 Awards 2008 - being held this year on 4 June at the Bournemouth International Centre - and pit yourself against some of the most environmentally astute organizations in the country?
The ISO 14001 Awards were launched in 2006 to mark the tenth anniversary of ISO 14001. They recognize the achievements of organizations certified to the world's only international environmental management systems standard. BSI British Standards, with the support of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA), hosts the Awards. They are split into three categories: SME, Large Organization and Public Sector Organization. A separate award for the most innovative use of ISO 14001, based on the applications for the three main categories, will be awarded to a fourth organization. Previous winners include Aggregate Industries, which won for Most Innovative Organization. According to Dr Ben Vivian, Aggregate Industries' corporate and social responsibility advisor, "Aggregate Industries takes its environmental responsibilities very seriously, continually monitoring and improving performance in all areas of the business. Winning the BSI award in 2006 was a fantastic recognition of the work that Aggregate has put into integrating ISO 14001."
The awards are judged by an independent panel of environmental experts, chaired by Oswald A Dodds MBE, head of the UK delegation to the ISO body responsible for the 14000 series of standards. The deadline for entries is 1 March 2008.
To nominate your organization for an award, visit:www.bsigroup.com/jan08iso14001awards
Business Standards © 2007. Editorial produced by Caspian Publishing in association with the British Standards Institution. Editorial opinions expressed on are not necessarily those of BSI Group or Caspian Publishing. Neither Caspian Publishing nor BSI Group accept responsibility for advertising or editorial content, nor for that appearing on linked third-party websites. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden without written permission from BSI Group or Caspian Publishing.
Reducing risk to the environment
Norfolk Environmental Waste Services (NEWS), a waste management company in East Anglia, has achieved certification to ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001 and ISO 9001.
Collections Trust (formerly MDA) is working with BSI British Standards to create a new Publicly Available Specification (PAS) for the management of cultural collections.
BSI has recently adopted two new international standards on customer service (ISO 10001 and ISO 10003) as BS ISOs.
In June, BSI will be hosting a conference on "Cleanrooms and Contamination Control for Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals: Update on Standards, Regulation and Best Practice".
The first deadline date for comments on the draft of BS 31100 Code of practice for risk management has passed. The standard is intended to help organizations understand, develop, implement and maintain risk management plans. It establishes the principles and terminology for risk management, and gives recommendations for its model, framework, process and implementation. The revised draft is due for further public comment in February 2008.
Question: Can standards really help minimize the need for regulation?
Regulation and legislation keep business on a level playing field and help mitigate against risk, as was acknowledged by The Hampton Review in 2005.
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