ISO hat trick: Eco Verde Energy sets industry benchmark with triple certification
Anaerobic digestion and green energy services provider, Eco Verde Energy (EVE), has become one of the first in the industry to achieve three International Organization for Standardisation (ISO) certifications.
EVE’s certifications include ISO 9001 for quality management systems meeting customer and regulatory expectations, ISO 14001 for environmental management enhancing performance and ISO 45001 for occupational health and safety systems protecting against work-related injuries and illnesses.
Will Rogers, EVE’s health, safety, environment and quality director, explains the achievement marks a continued commitment to operational excellence.
“We’re fortunate to have built our management system from the ground up, meaning it’s deliberately designed to meet the criteria set out in the international standards,” he says.
“Internally, we know our quality, environmental and occupational health and safety standards are high, but having third-party validation is a huge confidence boost.
“It gives assurance to our team, suppliers and customers and will be a huge asset to EVE as we continue to grow,” he adds.
Mr Rogers is keen to capitalise on the requirements set out by the ISO standards to strive for continual improvement.
“As part of the certification process, we’ll now have yearly surveillance audits which will measure our progress against planned objectives, ensuring we meet targets for customer expectations, environmental, legal, and other health and safety obligations,” he says.
The AD sector has been subject to increased scrutiny in recent years as it develops from small scale on-farm waste solutions to wide scale commercial operations.
This heightened focus on health, safety and efficiency is a positive development, says Mr Rogers.
“Last year, three EVE-managed sites were positively reviewed by the Health and Safety Executive as part of an industry information-gathering exercise on AD. This is a marked change in approach and demonstrates the importance of ensuring legal requirements and industry standards are consistently maintained when it comes to health and safety.
“Anaerobic digestion has an essential role to play for a more sustainable Britain, and we’re committed to demonstrating a strong safety record in line with our growth,” he adds.
Mr Rogers has a few words of advice for other operators considering applying for certifications.
“Make sure your management systems are designed to be reflective of the standard requirements, not the other way around.
“It doesn’t need to be complex; simplicity is key to ensuring effectiveness in the implementation process. All the standards are aligned and lend themselves to integration when it comes to shared requirements,” he says.
“The management system we’ve developed is not an off-the-shelf package but by adopting an integrated management system approach that’s inclusive of the standards, and setting clear objectives, we’ve got a winning formula.”
