Fragrance house Iberchem has taken an additional step in its waste management policy by receiving the Zero Waste certification from AENOR, the organisation legally responsible for the development and distribution of technical standards in Spain.
Iberchem has achieved the certification by demonstrating it is diverting more than 97% of its waste from landfills and incinerators to recycling and recovery facilities (7% above the minimum required to obtain the certification), thus moving from a linear economy model to a circular one. The evaluation covered a total of 19 different categories of waste, including paper, plastic, water and electronics.
“We are thrilled to have received the Zero Waste certification from AENOR,” said José Manuel Frutos, Safety, Health and Environment Manager at Iberchem. “On the one hand, obtaining a zero-waste certification is contingent on the efficiency of a company’s structure and operations. On the other, let’s not forget that it also relies greatly on the employees’ behaviour and commitment. So it goes without saying that our employees play an important role in carrying out our waste-management policy. This is why we give so much importance to our educational programme, to make sure that everyone understands their role and their personal impact.”
“Waste poses a real threat to public health and the environment,” added Guillaume Audy, Corporate Communication and Sustainability Director at Iberchem. “According to the World Bank, global waste is expected to grow to 3.40 billion tonnes by 2050, more than twice the population growth over the same period. Waste management can be challenging for an organisation to address. From electronic devices to plastic, it is closely related to many aspects of a company’s daily activity. Reducing waste often means rethinking the way things are done. However, the effort is worth it, as waste generation is a major issue companies should be looking to solve in the short term.”
In March 2021, Iberchem also successfully migrated its OHSAS 18001:2007 certification to the new ISO 45001:2018 (Occupational health and safety management systems), the goal of which is to reduce occupational injuries and diseases and to promote and protect physical and mental health. ISO 45001 is a notable milestone in Iberchem’s commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 3, aiming for a healthier and safer work environment, with a greater focus on the well-being of every employee.
