Published: 27th June 2012
Profile 22 and Swish Window and Door Systems have become the first systems businesses to secure the green standard BES6001 across their foiled and standard PVC-U ranges.
The Epwin Group systems houses join a handful of building product companies to have secured the new standard meeting a range of strict criteria ensuring responsible sourcing of construction products.
Including an assessment of organisational governance, supply chain management and social and environmental impact, the new standard was written into the Code for Sustainable Homes in late 2010.
In securing the qualification across its window and door framing systems and ancillary products, it gives fabricators and installers access to the industry’s most comprehensively accredited systems.
David Wrigley, managing director, Epwin Group Window Systems Division, said: “This is a very significant accreditation for us, as it’s a confirmation of the lead that we have delivered on sustainable manufacturing within the window and door sector.
“But it is also a significant opportunity for our customers, particularly those in the social and new build sectors, to lever additional commercial advantage by association.”
BES6001 ‘pulls’ together a number of other standards to demonstrate a commitment to responsible sourcing of materials. The Swish and Profile 22 extrusion operation secured the new standard after previously securing the quality management standard ISO9001, the environmental management standard ISO14001, occupational health and safety OHSAS18001.
As part of its assessment the division’s extrusion operation, which last year secured an Investor in People Gold Standard, also had to demonstrate commitments to the continual training and development of its workforce.
Pauline Maclean, SHEQ manager, Epwin Group Window Systems Division, explained: “We have gone through a very comprehensive assessment. This has included analysis of the integrity of our supply chain plus commitments to monitor and reduce our transport impacts and our energy consumption as part of the Climate Change Agreement.
“We are very proud of what we have achieved but also believe that it gives our customers a very positive message to take out to their existing and prospective market audiences.”
This is the latest in a series of sustainability firsts for the Epwin Group, which launched its award winning fully recycled profile Reco22 as a commercial proposition last year.
Using just six per cent of CO2 in production as profile extruded from virgin material, the system was first produced as a concept in 2004, going on to claimed the Best Recycled Product, at the National Recycling Awards in 2009.
Wrigley concluded: “Innovation in sustainable manufacture is critical. But the way in which we communicate that to our respective markets and society in general, is no less important.
“BES6001 is widely recognised within the social and new build sectors and securing it gives us and our customers further credibility as leaders within those markets.”
The certification for Swish and Profile 22’s Telford Extrusions operation can be viewed on the Green Book Live website www.greenbooklive.com .
Alternatively for more information visit www.profile22.co.uk; www.swishwindows.co.uk; or call 01952 290910.
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