KUNZELSAU, Germany -- Würth Service Supply has recently earned ISO 14001 certification at four of its locations: Indianapolis, IN; Atlanta, GA; Grand Rapids, MI; and Greenville, SC. The decision to pursue certification was made in January 2010, and after several months of planning, implementation, training, and review, Würth Service Supply successfully completed the ISO 14001 certification audit.
ISO 14001 is an international standard that allows businesses to develop an Environmental Management System (EMS) with the goal of minimizing their carbon footprint. It is a guide for developing an environmental policy, determining how the business impacts the environment, and implementing programs to improve a company’s environmental performance.
ISO 14001 certification consists of careful planning, implementation and operation, control of documents and records, corrective action, and management review. To receive certification, a business must pass a detailed audit of each location involved, proving it has a fully developed and implemented Environmental Management System.
Würth Service Supply made the decision to pursue certification in order to identify the impact its activities have on the environment and to minimize harmful effects. An employee team was appointed in early 2010 to develop the company’s EMS and environmental policy along with the guidance of a consultant. Employees were then trained in the EMS specifically developed for the business and successfully completed the audit in early fall of this year, resulting in ISO 14001 certification for the participating locations. This certification not only shows that Würth Service Supply is environmentally responsible and complies with environmental laws and regulations, but the company will also benefit from potential process improvements and energy conservation.
Würth Service Supply, Inc. is a part of the Würth Group, a world market leader in its core business, the trade in assembly and fastening material. It currently consists of about 400 companies in 84 countries and has ca. 58,000 employees on its payroll. Over 28,000 of these are permanently employed sales representatives. The Würth Group generated EUR 7.52 billion ($9.27 billion) in sales in the business year 2009.
