Branston Gains ISO 14001

16 January 2008

The UK's leading supplier of fresh potatoes has received ISO 14001 accreditation at its Lincolnshire site, in recognition of the company's comprehensive and stringent Environmental Management System. Steve Robinson, Site Manager at Branston's Lincolnshire factory, led the company's efforts. "As a business we're dedicated to working to the highest standards," he says. "Just over two years ago the senior management team at Branston committed to achieving ISO 14001. Since then we've looked at our entire operation, from the waste we produce through to our use of oil, gas and electricity. Wherever possible we now have a system to minimise our impact on the environment, reduce our energy consumption and maximise the reuse or recycling of waste materials.

"Preparing to be audited for ISO 14001 requires a full review of performance and has been incredibly hard work and very demanding. As a result of changing our working practices, we're helping the business to reduce its costs and become greener at the same time, so it's a win-win situation. Everyone is becoming more aware of the need to manage their impact on the environment and ISO 14001 shows our customers and suppliers that we're a committed and responsible company operating to the highest standards."

The Lincolnshire factory is the second of the company's three sites to achieve ISO 14001. Branston Scotland was accredited in March 2003, with Branston South West currently preparing to be audited later this year.

ISO 14001 was first published in 1996 by the International Organisation for Standardisation and specifies the actual requirements for an environmental management system. It applies to those environmental aspects that the organisation has control over and on which it can be expected to have an influence.