Implementing a management system that can claim ISO quality requires a process that truly involves all the actors in the organisation. In this case, last December 21 and 22 the Ecolec Foundation successfully passed the audit carried out by the SGS-ICS Swiss Accreditation Service, which is accredited, as always in these cases, by the National Accreditation Board (ENAC).

The requirements demanded of organisations, here the Ecolec Foundation, to rigorously comply with international standards, both relating to the quality management system – ISO 9001 – and to certify compliance with the environmental standards – UNE 14001 – means that the Ecolec foundation has provided all the documentation that defines every aspect of its daily operation (i.e., how the waste appliances are collected, the form of transportation, storage, etc.). 

The requirements of the ISO 9001 standard are:

• The organisation carries out an annual audit of the management system;
• The organisation promotes objectives for improvement to enhance customer satisfaction;
• The organisation undergoes an annual review by the management;  
• The organisation takes corrective and preventive measures;
• The organisation submits all of its resources, including technical and human, to a quality control.

Additionally, for the ISO certification process to be more than the simple declaration of the organisation’s intentions, all of the system management procedures are documented, internal actions are established and finally, an audit is performed.

UNE 14001 requires that the organisation, in this case Ecolec, carries out an operational control of all of the activities that relate to the environment, analyses the data obtained from the organisation (expenses for ink toners, paper recycling, etc.) and sets objectives for the future in this area. Ecolec was certified because the organisation’s environmental compliance in all of their activities was confirmed and objectives were set for improvements that foster sustainable development.

WHAT DOES THIS ACCREDITATION MEAN FOR ECOLEC?

ISO 9001 and UNE 14001 certification indicates that all the management control procedures at Ecolec are clear, documented, registered and established. Once the methods are validated by international accreditation, it is shown that Ecolec acts in a standardised way in its entire daily operation. Furthermore, all of the personnel within the organisation follow clearly determined processes, which are used to set goals that are then submitted to an external audit.

With the ISO 9001 standard, Ecolec can tell its providers, collaborators and clients that they can be certain that the organisation follows these quality standards in its management system, fulfilling its obligation to procure the best possible service.

With the UNE 14001 standard, Ecolec accredits its commitment to comply with the legislation in force on the environment and that the entire organisation contributes to sustainable development. Specifically, RD 208/2005 article 5 promotes the adoption of certified environmental management systems for activities regarding the treatment of waste electronic and electrical equipment.