Monadnock Paper Mills, Inc. Receives ISO14001:2004 Certification
Monadnock Paper Mills, Inc., manufacturer of technical specialty and premium printing papers has received certification for compliance with ISO14001:2004 - the most widely accepted international standard for environmental management systems (EMS). Systems and Services Certification, a member of the SGS Group and leader in third-party registration, conducted an independent audit and granted certification to Monadnock's Bennington, New Hampshire facility for successfully meeting the ISO14001 EMS requirements and having the processes in place to maintain that system.
Richard Verney, Chairman and CEO, explains, "We began building our environmental management system in 2003 with the assistance of the EPA and are pleased to have this third-party validation of our hard work. Our ISO14001:2004 certification is an extension of our long-standing leadership role as a steward of the environment. This is a formal, objective, quantifiable method of demonstrating to our customers our commitment to the environment."
Monadnock has identified all of the environmental aspects (operations that affect the environment) and impacts (changes to the environment resulting from those operations) associated with the papermaking process. "We will continue to focus on improvements in the areas of recycling, energy conservation, materials management, water conservation, solid waste reduction, emission reduction, and pollution prevention" states Michelle Hamm, Manager of Environmental Services.
Monadnock's sustainability initiatives have earned them the New Hampshire Governor's Award for Pollution Prevention, as well as certificates of achievement from the Sierra Club, the EPA, the American Forest and Paper
Association, the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, the New Hampshire Timberlands Association, and a variety of other state and local environmental organizations. In 2005, Monadnock generated 45% of its total energy demand from company owned on-site low-impact hydroelectric power greatly reducing their dependence on fossil fuels. Most recently, they became an EPA Performance Track company. Now, with dual ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 14001:2004 certifications, Monadnock's customers can be assured that the products they purchase are manufactured to the highest quality and environmental standards.
About ISO 14001
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is a non-governmental body that develops standards for business, government, and society. ISO 14001 is an internationally recognized standard with specific requirements for an Environmental Management System. ISO 14001 certification ensures compliance with environmental laws and regulations governing a wide variety of environmental activities.
