ISO Standards

Business Consulting Firms Have Placed Sustainability On Top Of Their List

Over the last several years, many member internet sites have tried to address this concept. However , for such websites to fully implement all sides of Sustainability, several concerns must be addressed. We rarely have a problem in spotting what really should be done; instead , our problem often relates to implementation. In the case of Sustainability, a disregard of disciplined tools available is the main reason for inadequate implementation.

This article addresses certain ideas of sustainability and how such concepts can be completely implemented with available trained tools such as ISO standards.

1. What is Sustainability?

The International Organization for Standardizing (ISO) pertains to Sustainability as the facility to maintain or develop performance in the long term. Looked at thru a different lens, sustainability has to do with keeping up your business financially, socially and environmentally.

2. Parts of Sustainability

Sustainability broadly is composed of three components:

  • Business Sustainability (business/finance);
  • Environmental Sustainability; and
  • Social Responsibility.

Simply put , Sustainability relates to an ideal balance of risk, profitability, social responsibility, and liability.

3. Sustainability in action

4. Connecting Sustainability to ISO Authorization

To achieve and maintain sustainability for continued success, an organization should industriously follow certain management disciplines. ISO has developed Standards for Quality, Environment and Safety, each of which details approaches to gain long-term sustainable success.

5. Which ISO Standards?

Several members of AICC have developed Sustainability mechanisms. Nevertheless these members are sometimes facing difficulties in using such methodologies.

2 types of ISO Standards are helpful for successful implementation of Sustainability practices: Certifiable standards and Guidance standards.

A. ISO Certifiable Standards:

Certain certifiable ISO standards have brought benefits to the corrugated changing industry, such as:

  • ISO 9001: 2008 Quality Management System (QMS) is focused on Disciplined Problem Fixing Sustained Improvement and Enhancing Consumer Satisfaction; allows top management to drive improvement through synchronizing quality managing system results with business performance results
  • ISO 14001: 2004 Environmental Management System (EMS) focuses on Pollution Prevention, Conservation of Energy and Naturally Occuring Resources; promotes Sustained Improvement and Environmental Sustainability
  • OHSAS 18001: 2007 Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS) concentrates on Occupational Health & Safety risk assessments related to risks with participation and consultation to drive Unremitting Improvement

B. ISO Steerage Standards:

ISO has developed several direction standards, some of which have been along with its partner, IEC (World Electrotechnical Commission). The following guidance standards have been useful in successful implementation of Sustainability:

  • ISO 9004:2009 Managing for the sustained success of an organization: A top notch management approach
    • Provides steerage to associations for achievement of sustained success through a quality management approach. This standard may be employed by any organisation, without regard for size, type and activity.
  • ISO 31000:2009 Risk management: Elements and axioms
    • Identifies opportunities and minimises threats related to environmental, financial and safety risks.Risk is all about doubt and the results of doubt in attaining set aims related to safety and environment.
  • ISO/IEC 31010:2009 Risk management: Risk assessment systems
    • Provides organizations with steerage on: dangers connected with societal, environmental, technological, safety and security outcomes; commercial, financial and economic disciplines; and social, cultural and political reputation impacts. This standard may be used to treat particular risks and to select between options.
  • ISO 26000:2010. Guidance on Social Responsibility
    • Emphasises a clear ethical behaviour in all choices related to society and the environment. This standard promotes sustainable development on safety and health and international norms of behaviour, and it provides steering to organizations of whatever size regarding concepts, elements and practices related to social responsibility

6. List of Sustainability and ISO Standard Connections

Sustainability PartsISO Standard Business Sustainability ISO 9001; ISO 31000; ISO 31010; ISO Guide 73 Environmental Sustainability ISO 14001 Social Responsibility (OH&S) ISO 26000; OHSAS 18001

7. Other Standards associated with Sustainability

Certain certifiable Chain of Custody and US Green Building Council (USGBC) standards also relate to sustainability.

A. Chain of Custody

  • Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
  • Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)
  • Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC)

B. US Green Building Council (USGBC)

USGBC has developed Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), a globally recognized green building verification system.

Some AICC members are requiring their clients to go along with these building ratification system necessities.

8. Authorization Essentiality

Critical questions:

  • Have we got to accomplish certification for all certifiable standards to demonstrate Sustainability? The answer is No.
  • Are we able to maintain Sustainability without having a discipline in place and have it authenticated by a third party on a continual basis? The answer is It depends.

The decision is down to you. Answers to these questions rely on senior management’s views as well commitment to achieve and maintain sustainability over the future.

9. Buyers Influence on Sustainability

Major packaging buyers are indirectly or directly influencing AICC members to adhere to specific sustainability requirements (e.g, Walmarts Sustainability Score Cards system).

In the end the purchaser is king; our customers sign our pay check. Our companies are likely to help meet consumer demands, without reference to how many ISO standards are needed to fully implement measurable Sustainability.

10. The Rs Connection to Sustainability

Being in the Corrugated Converting Industry, we won’t close the loop on sustainability without talking about Rs. My top 5 Rs are: Remove; Reduce; Reuse; Recycle; and Renew.

Summary

Sustainability is the facility to maintain your business financially, socially and environmentally. To do total sustainability, practitioners must recognize the tools that are generally accessible for effective implementation. Certifiable and Guidance ISO standards together with some consumer required tools are stipulated in this piece for higher managers review and selection. Application of the selected tools on continued basis across the organization in relentless demeanour will position any organization on a sustainable trail.

Baskar Kotte is an ISO Consultant has helped multiple clients with ISO certifications (ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001), AIB, Chain of Custody (FSC/SFI/PEFC), , Customer Satisfaction Measurement, Operational Excellence, Lean, and Bottom-line Improvement.