We're a UK based, small manufacturing company in the automotive and other sectors. We've been operating since 2003 and ISO 9001 certified since 2004. We've not felt the need to go for any other certification. However we're getting customer forms more often asking if we've got a certain standard or if we planned to get it. Not exactly forcing us that way but making the point it's more favourable to get them.
The latest is with an existing non automotive customer who has changed the way they procure items and as a result we need to undergo onboarding. Loads of slightly irrelevant questions about conflict materials, slavery, etc. But among them are requests for environmental policy documents.
Now we're a low impact business with mostly inert raw materials. Some chemicals but overall a low impact site (except perhaps for carbon). We've really never needed a policy document. Or it was thought we didn't. We comply with local regulations and have never had any issue relating to environment. We've had site visits but always clean bill of health.
So what are the benefits to our business should we go down documenting our environmental management system. We do have a system because without it we'd have had issues before. Low impact isn't no impact.
Basically I like the idea of standards and systems. Documenting quality, environmental and occupational health management systems would be interesting and useful experience personally but it's a business decision. If it ain't broke don't fix it versus growth in terms of our documents management systems.
In the meantime I'm looking at examples and templates for environmental policies to complete this customer's purchasing system questionnaires. Doing it shouldn't be about a customer's ticklist.
The latest is with an existing non automotive customer who has changed the way they procure items and as a result we need to undergo onboarding. Loads of slightly irrelevant questions about conflict materials, slavery, etc. But among them are requests for environmental policy documents.
Now we're a low impact business with mostly inert raw materials. Some chemicals but overall a low impact site (except perhaps for carbon). We've really never needed a policy document. Or it was thought we didn't. We comply with local regulations and have never had any issue relating to environment. We've had site visits but always clean bill of health.
So what are the benefits to our business should we go down documenting our environmental management system. We do have a system because without it we'd have had issues before. Low impact isn't no impact.
Basically I like the idea of standards and systems. Documenting quality, environmental and occupational health management systems would be interesting and useful experience personally but it's a business decision. If it ain't broke don't fix it versus growth in terms of our documents management systems.
In the meantime I'm looking at examples and templates for environmental policies to complete this customer's purchasing system questionnaires. Doing it shouldn't be about a customer's ticklist.