EHS helps Reiter meet ISO 14001 standard

Consultants from EHS Projects have worked with Reiter Automotive (GB) to help the company achieve ISO 14001 certification, which had become a critical issue due to pressure from customers.

Reiter Automotive (GB) is a well-established company within the automotive and general industrial product finishing markets.

Employing 850 people at two UK sites in Halesowen and Heckmondwike, the Swiss-owned company also operates across a global network with sites in five continents.

As an international company, adhering to industry standards is a key requirement.

Over the past year Reiter has been working with EHS, one of the UK's leading environmental health and safety specialist services, to achieve ISO 14001 - the international environmental management standard.

Reiter has long recognised the importance of the interaction between its activities and the environment.

However, with key blue chip clients, including Toyota, making ISO 14001 a requirement for their main suppliers, gaining the certification was crucial.

In fact, if Reiter had not complied, the company could have found itself off Toyota's suppliers list - a move that would have had huge repercussions across the company.

Previously Reiter was spending over half a million pounds a year taking site waste to landfill.

For the surrounding neighbourhood this meant up to ten HGVs leaving the site each day, which had begun to lead to poor community relations as a result of the high levels of noise, odour and litter the transportation created.

In addition, the following areas were also a cause for concern: occurrence of pollution incidents through lack of prevention measures and poor management; lack of onsite security, leading to incidents caused by vandals, such as the release of materials to the drain; ongoing regulatory pressure and the threat of prosecutions and fines from both the Local Authority and the Environmental Agency; failure to ensure all licences were in place and being monitored in order to operate processes; and little awareness of environmental responsibilities among key members of staff.

Andrew Taylor, operations manager at EHS Projects, comments: "ISO 14001 is the most widely used international environmental standard and therefore the most recognised benchmark.

"There has been a substantial uptake of ISO 14001 in the Far East and Japan, and British companies wanting to trade with companies from these areas need to think about how they can demonstrate their environmental credentials to potential clients.

"Despite a reluctance from UK organisations to become certified to this international standard, more and more companies are now realising its importance.

"In fact ISO14001 is critical to the success of many organisations as more and more companies work with their suppliers to improve the environmental efficiency of their supply chain.

"This is no more so the case than in Reiter's UK operations".

Working closely with Reiter's own staff including health, safety and environmental manager, Duncan Chappell, EHS established a clear improvement plan, supported by regular visits from its specialists.

With advice from EHS, a key environmental policy now in place is that site waste is shredded on site, resulting in savings of up to 50 per cent on waste disposal costs.

Previously, up to 10 containers of waste per day, carrying 3tonnes of rubbish each, were transported to landfill.

As a result of the initiative, transport costs have been cut by up to 60 per cent, representing a significant saving in the amount of CO2 being generated as a result of the transport operation.

This is being followed up by an initiative to reduce the overall tonnage of waste being sent for disposal, by developing alternative uses for surplus or waste materials in conjunction with a number of other companies.

Additional improvements include: formation of an environmental management team with regular weekly meetings and monthly audits and reports submitted to site management; site clearance, including clean up and repair; improvement in security, containment and housekeeping measures; management, supervisory and shop floor environmental training; training on hazardous substances, assessment and management; the sites are now cleaner and safer and legally compliant in all processes; and all employees now have set environmental responsibilities.

Duncan Chappell comments: "Like most busy businesses the environmental message is one of many competing for attention.

"However, we recognised that the issue deserved to be noticed and through the help of EHS we have been able to implement a number of key improvements that have and will go straight to our bottom line".

As a result of the improvements, Reiter achieved the IS0 14001 certification in June 2003.

Duncan Chappell adds: "Gaining IS0 14001 is only part of the picture for us.

"We take full responsibility for the long-term sustainability of both our business and our products.

"A key role for us will be to continue to work with EHS to make maximum use of energy saving efficiencies in other key areas such as use of water, gas and electricity ".

Andrew Taylor concludes: "Improving your environmental credentials is not just about raising your profile, it is about taking control of costs too.

"Implementing key environmental procedures is one of the most responsible actions that a business can take, with cost savings taking effect from day one.

"It really is a win-win situation, as Reiter has found out".

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