Lavendon Achieves UK First For International Environment Standard

Lavendon Access Services has become the first powered access rental company in the UK to achieve the ISO 14001 international standard for environment management, following an assessment by EQA (European Quality Assurance).

This achievement underlines the company's commitment to operating in a way that is as energy and resource efficient as possible whilst helping its clients do the same.

ISO 14001 provides a core set of international standards that organisations can use to design the most effective environment management systems. Lavendon Access Services has shown it meets this standard for a range of measures, including energy use, waste management, recycling, noise and light pollution.

The company, which includes the Nationwide Platforms, Panther and EPL Skylift brands, was awarded the accreditation after a detailed audit of its depots and operating systems by ISO auditors.

Kevin Appleton, Chief Executive of the Lavendon Group, said: "We are delighted to be the first powered access company in the UK to achieve the very important ISO 14001 standard. Whilst it makes strong commercial sense we also believe it reflects our determination to be a socially responsible environmentally-conscious organisation.

"An increasing number of our clients meet ISO 14001. They want the assurance that they are doing business with companies that come up to the same standard. Efficient use of energy and other resources means less waste and less cost which improves our profitability and means we can concentrate more on meeting our customers' needs.

"It shows the great strides we have made as a company. In 2008, I set the challenge of gaining the accreditation within two years. It is a great credit to all our staff that we've achieved that goal."

The standard applies to all Lavendon Access Services depots that have been modernised as part of the company's Technical Excellence programme, the measurements include:

• Systematic monitoring and assessment of all energy and water use with targets set for reducing use
• Stringent waste management controls, again with targets to reduce waste
• Where appropriate, the reselling of machines due for replacement rather than scrappage
• Regular toolbox talks on protecting the environment
• Introduction of a new truck fleet using the most energy efficient vehicles and reversing warning alarms that minimise noise pollution
• Introduction of a new transport management system, called Lavendon Visibility Transport - that minimises wasted journeys and selects the most efficient routes
• A new car purchasing scheme that takes account of lifetime environment impact of the vehicles
• Light sensors in depots that switch off lights when not needed to minimise energy use and light pollution

Kevin Appleton added: "Because it's an international standard, ISO 14001 will help us develop business systems and operations across the whole group. This will set a benchmark for improving our environment management systems."

Lavendon Access Services is heading towards an integrated suite of ISO standards. With ISO 9001 and 14001 already achieved, the company is due to have ISO 18001 in place by April 2011.