igus UK awarded ISO14001 environmental accreditation

igus UK, a Northampton-based polymer specialist, has achieved ISO14001 certification, part of an ongoing business objective to reduce the company's environmental footprint, the accreditation endorses the quality and environmental management systems igus have in place. ISO14001 is an internationally accepted standard that sets out how to put in place an effective Environmental Management System (EMS)

Stuart Clarke, systems manager at igus UK, explains: "The use of voluntary environmental management systems by organisations is rapidly increasing around the world, with many companies asking their suppliers to follow suit. We already operate according to the principles of lean manufacturing and are constantly looking for new and innovative ways to improve our processes."

When working towards ISO14001 certification, igus set in place a framework for continuous development as Mr Clarke explains: "The environmental aspects were ranked in order of significance to determine where the focus would lie – the main priorities were the legal requirements laid down by the ISO14001 standard; other key considerations were financial implications and interests to third parties."

Customers of igus UK also help to reduce environmental impact, as the igus polymer bearings do not require lubrication. The use of dry-running polymer bearings allows money to be saved and machine safety to be increased. The Environmental Protection Office in Baden-Würtemberg affirms that more than 50% of all lubricants leak into the environment. With yearly lubricants usage of 37.3 million tons worldwide (according to figures published by RWTH Aachen), more than 18 million tons leak into the environment. In addition, according to a recent MIT survey, damage caused by friction and wear costs up to 6% of the gross national product every year.

Author
Michael Richards

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