KELHEIM - Kelheim Fibres has become the first viscose fibre manufacturer worldwide to receive EMAS certification, a management system that aims to certify the complete environmental performance of a company.
EMAS stands for “Eco Management and Audit Scheme” and is a standardised eco management certification system developed by the European Union. EMAS includes the globally applicable ISO 14001 standard and goes beyond its requirements by demanding more transparency and continuous improvement. Certified companies report in their annual EMAS Environmental Statement on their environmental goals and their progress in meeting them.
“Our aspiration is that our fibres offer an eco-friendly and high-performance alternative to synthetic materials,” said Craig Barker, CEO at Kelheim Fibres. “So, it’s not enough that our fibres are made from renewable resources and that they are fully biodegradable – our environmental awareness must include the whole production process and all that goes with it if we want to safeguard our credibility. The EMAS certification proves that we take this responsibility seriously.”
During the audit preceding the certification, the independent environmental auditor thoroughly investigated all departments of the company, from the production itself to the company canteen. The inspection found no non-conformances and was impressed by the competence and the high sense of responsibility among Kelheim’s employees.
In contrast to the EU Ecolabel and similar certifications, EMAS does not apply to individual products or services, but certifies the complete environmental performance of the company. This benefits not only the protection of the environment and climate, but also the improvement of a company’s Eco efficiency.
“An efficient environmental management system ensures that economy and ecology go hand in hand – that gives us a decisive competitive edge,” Barker added.
Kelheim's viscose speciality fibres are used in range of diverse applications from fashion, hygiene and medical products to nonwovens and speciality papers.
All products are made from 100% wood pulp from PEFCTM or FSC certified sources. They are fully biodegradable and offer an environmentally sound alternative to petroleum-based materials in a broad range of different end products – while maintaining or even enhancing the functional performance of the product.
The production takes place exclusively in Germany and complies with the strict German environmental legislation.
