Plaster and drywall systems manufacturer Knauf Drywall has gained ISO 14001 certification for environmental management as part of an ongoing drive for excellence throughout its business. The ISO 14001 award endorses Knauf Drywall’s excellent environmental management policies and practices at its UK factories, including energy efficient low-emission, low-waste manufacturing and extensive recycling, and gives customers the assurance that the company’s comprehensive range reflects the highest standards of sustainability.

“ISO 14001 certification confirms that we have a sound environmental management programme – among the best in the world – so that the drywall systems we produce will contribute positively to the eco-ratings of new buildings,” says Paul Lonergan, Knauf Drywall’s Compliance Manager. “The building industry is increasingly aware of its environmental responsibilities, so it is important for us to supply customers with products that are as sustainable as possible. Specifiers and designers can confidently specify our systems to produce more sustainable buildings and ensure compliance with the toughest environmental regulations.”

Assessors from the British Standards Institute visited Knauf Drywall’s factories at Sittingbourne and Immingham to examine environmental management in detail, from policy making to emergency response plans and staff training. Paul Lonergan says: “Our approach to environmental management is based on the concept that we are a responsible company, seeking always to be a good neighbour and minimising our impact on the environment. To achieve this we have to understand our legal obligations, and constantly strive to improve performance in any area of potential environmental impact – especially reducing emissions and waste. We also have to ensure that everybody knows what to do if something goes wrong, so that any negative impacts are minimised.”

Paul Lonergan says the ISO 14001 certification is part of Knauf Drywall’s broader journey to integrate the management systems of all aspects of the business. “We have already achieved ISO 9001 certification for quality systems, and our next aim is OHSAS 18001 certification for occupational health and safety standards,” he says.

Plaster and plasterboard manufacture at Knauf Drywall factories uses gypsum from the most sustainable sources. A proportion of recycled material, from production waste and contractors’ offcuts, is returned to the production process, avoiding the need to send waste to landfill.

Knauf Drywall manufactures a full range of plasters, plasterboards, insulating laminates, dry flooring, drywall accessories, and metal sections for domestic, commercial and public sector applications. Knauf Drywall pioneered carbon neutral plasterboard in the UK with Knauf Futurepanel. Knauf Drywall also actively promotes recycling from building sites and has a zero waste policy in its energy-efficient factories at Sittingbourne in Kent and Immingham on Humberside.