Certification for sustainability is much more than an obligation
There is a topic that is currently a focal point of almost every company in the Netherlands: sustainability. Customers of companies in almost all industries are asking for it. But more and more companies also have to comply with laws and regulations on the environment, society and governance (ESG). None of this seems easy, but certification can certainly help. At least, if and when you see the opportunities.
Not advice, but insight
"Of course, as a certifier, we can never and should never act as a consultant and start handing out well-meaning advice," Werkmeester clearly states. "But what we are very good at is providing overview and insight."
Certainly in the area of sustainability, there is an awful lot of room for improvement for companies. And certification can very well help with that, says Werkmeester. "With our CO2 performance ladder, for example, companies can perfectly see where they stand in terms of sustainability. Not only within their own company, but also in cooperation with other parties in the chain."
Climbing the CO2 performance ladder is not only convenient and necessary to provide insight into the results of sustainability policies. This method also provides direct insight into sustainability towards potential clients and can therefore make a big difference when awarding certain contracts. Because here too, sustainability is very often central.
Good certification is only possible if you stand beside the customer
Normec's certification branch has been active in the sector for more than 20 years, and therefore an enormous amount of knowledge and experience has been built up. "Again, we are really not consultants in disguise, but neither do we stand at a distance testing the conditions and rules," Werkmeester emphasizes. "We really stand alongside our clients. The assessment is the assessment, but the way we do it is so that the customer also benefits from it."
In the area of sustainability, Normec offers the comprehensive ISO 14001 certificate in addition to all the specific certificates. With this certificate, companies can show that they comply with all environmental laws and regulations. And it also offers real added value in the operations of many companies explains Werkmeester. "One of the requirements of this certificate is to set up an environmental management system. This often makes companies directly aware of the impact of their business processes on the environment. You then map this out and actions are defined to control the environmental aspects. So this is a certification that can really help companies in implementation to control and further develop the sustainability of their organization and operations."
Quick, simple overview
Although around the subject of certification sometimes still hangs a somewhat 'dusty image', in practice this is certainly not the case as far as Werkmeester is concerned. "We definitely have a critical way of testing, but in doing so we also provide direct insights that our client often did not come up with themselves. Without pointing an authoritarian finger, of course."
During the entire process from request to execution, Normec offers as much convenience and information as possible. "We send quotations to the customer within a day, but also during the certification itself we try to make it as easy as possible. Customers can always view and track the certification in our system, so there is an open and transparent situation. Exactly that is the basis for the trust needed to achieve results and to really enjoy working together."
Achieving a safe and healthy working and living environment?
We test, inspect and certify so that organizations can innovate safely, quickly and cost-effectively.