Company news Pensord Collect Badges

Pensord Collect Badges

Pensord Collect Badges

Pensord has picked up three badges in the past week, with accreditation for environmental work that has been ongoing at the controlled circulation magazine printer since its MBO almost five years ago.

Pensord has achieved ISO 14001 with a full Environmental Management System, in addition to certification with FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council®) and PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification).

ISO 14001 is an environmental management standard which formalises many of the existing practices carried out at Pensord, such as waste handling and recycling.

FSC® and PEFC are two approaches to showing a chain of custody of paper from managed forests, tracing forest products through the supply chain to the end-consumer; they look at the origin of the fibre in the paper and ensure that it is sourced from sustainably managed forests. Pensord has now been certified for both, and is therefore eligible to add the FSC® or PEFC logo to products printed on this type of paper, when the customer requests this, so aiding traceability, and assuring customers of sustainability.

Confirmation of the badges has just been received, following audits in the first quarter of 2008. The ISO14001 audit was undertaken by Certification International. Assessor Barry Young had this to say about the process: “It was evident that the company management truly embraced the concepts of environmental management and used the requirements of the Standard to improve the company’s environmental performance in a pragmatic and meaningful fashion”.

Karl Gater, Operations Director at Pensord said: “Sustainability has been best practice at Pensord for some time now, a feature of the company’s responsible approach to the environment. It’s gratifying that our green credentials have received recognition, and the badges are very welcome, but for us it’s still the actions that count, and we will continue to operate in a manner that is sensitive to the environment, and in the best interests of customers.”

As for Pensord’s own processes, the company recycles used printing plates, paper, polythene and cardboard. Significant investment in new kit over the past four years has meant that they boast up-to-date, energy efficient plant and machinery throughout the factory, and this process is ongoing through continued investment. Pensord also utilises vegetable based inks which are soya and rape seed based. 

The company has been working towards accreditation with Phil Chambers of the BPIF (British Printing Industries Federation). Phil said: “As someone who has worked with many companies to introduce these and other standards, it is always a pleasure to work with a company like Pensord where either practices are already in place or, when additional practices are required, I can have the confidence that actions will be carried through.”