Panalpina achieves ISO 14001:2004 Global Environmental Certification
Experts from the leading inspection and certification company SGS have audited 80 country organizations of Panalpina, the global forwarding and logistics service provider. After completing the thorough audit process, SGS has granted Panalpina the Global Environmental Certification to the standard ISO 14001:2004.
The certification process was part of Panalpina’s ambitious PanGreen program which aims to reduce CO2 emissions. Panalpina is the first company in the industry which achieved a global ISO 14001:2004 certification covering its operations worldwide under one integrated management system and certification scheme, a milestone in the PanGreen program. “We as individuals and as members of a global player within the logistics industry, have a moral and civic duty to do everything possible to minimize the impact that our actions have on the environment”, explains Chief Operating Officer Karl Weyeneth. “PanGreen is an important pillar of our strategy”, he continues.
Lynsey MacIver, corporate HSE (Health, Safety & Environment) manager and in charge of the certification project, explains the goals of the so-called eco-concepts in detail. “We are committed to paper reduction, recycling, waste management and the limitation of business flights, electricity use and water consumption. Thus we will minimize global resource consumption and reduce internal CO2 emissions”, she says. “Furthermore, we want to continuously reduce the environmental impact of our business activities by cargo consolidation, modal shifts and special handling of hazardous cargo”. Therefore the ISO 14001:2004 certification of all offices is a vital step forward which will be followed by other initiatives in the future, such as measuring CO2 emissions from customers, partners and subcontractors.
Corporate HSE manager Lynsey MacIver established global guidelines and standards meeting the requirements of ISO 14001:2004 which were then implemented in all country organizations, taking into account local environmental legislation. Part of the program was the roll-out of environmental e-learning modules which had to be completed by all employees, analog to similar tests about compliance, antitrust and trade regulations. “Those e-learning sessions are very important not simply to pass the audits but mainly to raise awareness for environmental issues and to help our employees to reduce emissions in their daily work”, explains Lynsey MacIver.
The global audits carried out by SGS commenced in the fourth quarter of 2009 and were completed early 2010. Rolf Percy Herberg, responsible Global Key Account Manager and SGS Lead Auditor praises Panalpina for the short time it took the company to roll-out its program. “Comparing Panalpina with other global certification programs across several industries, I was amazed about how few non-conformities were found. This is astonishing and demonstrates the seriousness and importance Panalpina attaches to its environmental commitment”, he continues.
The Panalpina Group
The Panalpina Group is one of the world's leading suppliers of forwarding and logistics services, specializing in end-to-end supply chain management solutions and intercontinental air freight and ocean freight shipments. Thanks to its in-depth industry know-how and state-of-the-art IT systems, Panalpina provides globally integrated door-to-door forwarding services tailored to its customers' individual needs. The Panalpina Group operates a close-knit network with some 500 branches in over 80 countries. In a further 80 countries, it cooperates closely with partner companies. Panalpina employs approximately 13,500 people worldwide.
The certification process was part of Panalpina’s ambitious PanGreen program which aims to reduce CO2 emissions. Panalpina is the first company in the industry which achieved a global ISO 14001:2004 certification covering its operations worldwide under one integrated management system and certification scheme, a milestone in the PanGreen program. “We as individuals and as members of a global player within the logistics industry, have a moral and civic duty to do everything possible to minimize the impact that our actions have on the environment”, explains Chief Operating Officer Karl Weyeneth. “PanGreen is an important pillar of our strategy”, he continues.
Lynsey MacIver, corporate HSE (Health, Safety & Environment) manager and in charge of the certification project, explains the goals of the so-called eco-concepts in detail. “We are committed to paper reduction, recycling, waste management and the limitation of business flights, electricity use and water consumption. Thus we will minimize global resource consumption and reduce internal CO2 emissions”, she says. “Furthermore, we want to continuously reduce the environmental impact of our business activities by cargo consolidation, modal shifts and special handling of hazardous cargo”. Therefore the ISO 14001:2004 certification of all offices is a vital step forward which will be followed by other initiatives in the future, such as measuring CO2 emissions from customers, partners and subcontractors.
Corporate HSE manager Lynsey MacIver established global guidelines and standards meeting the requirements of ISO 14001:2004 which were then implemented in all country organizations, taking into account local environmental legislation. Part of the program was the roll-out of environmental e-learning modules which had to be completed by all employees, analog to similar tests about compliance, antitrust and trade regulations. “Those e-learning sessions are very important not simply to pass the audits but mainly to raise awareness for environmental issues and to help our employees to reduce emissions in their daily work”, explains Lynsey MacIver.
The global audits carried out by SGS commenced in the fourth quarter of 2009 and were completed early 2010. Rolf Percy Herberg, responsible Global Key Account Manager and SGS Lead Auditor praises Panalpina for the short time it took the company to roll-out its program. “Comparing Panalpina with other global certification programs across several industries, I was amazed about how few non-conformities were found. This is astonishing and demonstrates the seriousness and importance Panalpina attaches to its environmental commitment”, he continues.
The Panalpina Group
The Panalpina Group is one of the world's leading suppliers of forwarding and logistics services, specializing in end-to-end supply chain management solutions and intercontinental air freight and ocean freight shipments. Thanks to its in-depth industry know-how and state-of-the-art IT systems, Panalpina provides globally integrated door-to-door forwarding services tailored to its customers' individual needs. The Panalpina Group operates a close-knit network with some 500 branches in over 80 countries. In a further 80 countries, it cooperates closely with partner companies. Panalpina employs approximately 13,500 people worldwide.