05.11.2024

soft trim reaches new sustainability milestone with ISO 14001 certification soft trim reaches new sustainability milestone with ISO 14001 certification

soft trim’s commitment to protect the environment and preserve resources has been officially confirmed after the seat developer received its ISO 14001 certification.

“This certificate is a key milestone for soft trim, helping us to showcase everything we have achieved so far and demonstrating the path we intend to take moving forward,” says Mathias Polk, Head of Quality Management. ISO 14001 is an international standard requiring companies to follow eco- and resource-friendly processes.

According to General Manager Kai Rudoloph, sustainability is an issue that is becoming increasingly important – as new legislation such as the new German Supply Chain Act (Lieferkettengesetz) shows. “Our customers demand ISO 14001 certification to meet their supply chain disclosure requirements. With official confirmation of our environmentally friendly and sustainable processes, they can be absolutely sure that they are on the safe side.”

The successful certification on 13 September 2024 heralded the start of a new, sustainable era at soft trim. Things that happened more or less as a matter of course in the past are now precisely measured, documented and embedded in clearly defined processes. “We have defined measurable quality targets and key performance indicators that we are following systematically to improve the carbon footprint of the company,” Rudolph adds. “This gives us clarity in terms of our strategy and process reliability.”

In specific terms, soft trim’s efforts are centred on cutting energy, electricity and water consumption as well as waste. “Sustainability is a major consideration when deciding whether to repair or replace machinery,” Polk says. “By giving systems longer life spans, we can preserve resources and avoid unnecessary carbon emissions. Only when a machine becomes outdated from an energy-efficiency perspective it can make sense to purchase a new system. This is because modern machinery is often significantly more efficient and therefore will reduce the company’s carbon footprint in the long term.”

soft trim has already made some big steps forward in its sustainability strategy by switching to LED lighting and installing solar panels. The company also plans to install tap aerators, motion sensors in infrequently used areas and heating thermostats – all of which are examples of the marginal gains in efficiency that can have a significant effect on aggregate.

The team at soft trim has also been a source of inspiration for ways to improve the company’s carbon footprint. “Numerous colleagues have come to me with their ideas,” Polk says. “People are thinking about what they can do and are sharing their thoughts with others. It’s no one-man show here at soft trim. We all need to band together to drive forward and embrace the concept of sustainability.”

It took an entire year of preparatory work before soft trim could finally receive its ISO 14001 certification, as many processes had to be established deep down in the company’s systems. Employees from almost all of soft trim’s departments were involved in the process, particularly the procurement and administration teams. The first certification audit is followed by two surveillance audits in the coming years. If soft trim successfully achieves its sustainability goals, it can be re-certified after three years.

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