Woodhouse Show and Event Specialists has achieved third party accredited certification against the combined ISO14001 (International Standard in Environmental Management) and BS8901 (the British Standard for a Sustainability Management System for Events).
Woodhouse worked closely with sustainability consultants EcoEvents, who specialise in sustainability management solutions designed specifically for the events industry, venues, and related supply chains. EcoEvents provided the consultancy and training to enable Woodhouse to gain certification after only eight months reviewing, developing and installing their sustainability policies and procedures. The certification was then awarded by AJA Registrars, a UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) accredited Global Certification Body.
Tony Marsh, managing director, Woodhouse said “Achieving these certifications will ensure measurable bottom line benefits for us and will enable us to offer better value to our client base, to actively support their policies and assist them in achieving their sustainability goals. We are early adopters of the environmental & sustainability standards and together with all the 2012 family of suppliers we are required to supply impartial and independent evidence of our sustainability performance. Suppliers that have self-certified or been certified by the very consultants that helped them develop and implement their systems cannot say with any validity that they have achieved the internationally recognised certification. We knew that the best way of achieving the joint BS -ISO certification was by working with a specialist consultancy who fully understands the process, and then having the joint standards awarded by a UKAS accredited certification body”.
Sam Wilson, director, EcoEvents said: “Woodhouse passed both certificates with flying colours and is paving the way for suppliers within the events industry. It is essential that leading suppliers providing these essential services at the ‘front line’ have a pragmatic understanding of legislation and sustainability practices so that associated risks are identified, managed and reduced. We need to be discouraging so called first and second party ‘certification’ and combining our voices to protect our industry and deliver a clear message to those wishing to seek certification. Anything other than independent third party certification will result in our industry being de-professionalised and result in a lack of credibility. We have a unique opportunity to lead the way in sustainable development and differentiate ourselves amongst other industries. It would be a shame if we did not take full advantage of this.”
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Explanation of terms
- Sustainable development – an enduring, balanced approach to economic activity, environmental responsibility and social progress.
- BS8901:2009– British Standard for a Specification for a Sustainability Management System for Events
- ISO14001 – International Standard Environmental Management first published as a British Standard in 1992, now a robust and globally recognised standard that applies to all businesses in all sectors.
- Accreditation – the term given to a certification body that complies with the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) requirements for certification.
- Certification – not interchangeable with accreditation, is a term given to organisations that have been assessed and awarded certification by an accredited certification body (be aware that there are organisations that offer certification that have no form of accreditation and therefore do not comply with International requirements for their operations).
- First, second and third party certification – first party is self declaration of compliance; second party is where a client/interested party confirms compliance; and third party is independent verification by an independent organisation such as an accredited Certification Body
