UK-based multimodal forwarder Davies Turner Group got its ISO14001:2015 certification for the environmental management system set in four of its regional distribution centres, which will be managed centrally from Davies Turner’s headquarters in Coleshill, near Birmingham, confirmed a press release.  

Selected as the initial sites to implement the international standard in October 2019, three of these freight hubs are operated by its surface freight subsidiary, Davies Turner & Co, whilst the fourth one is run by Heathrow-based airfreight subsidiary, Davies Turner Air Cargo.  

Davies Turner said it partnered with ISO consultancy firm SQE Assurance to help with the development of a bespoke cloud-based EMS, whilst Alcumus, a provider of technology-led compliance and risk management solutions, granted the ISO certification.  

As clients become more conscious of who to work with, seeking better proof of environmental, social and governance compliance, the company is confident that the EMS certification would further differentiate them from the competition since the number of other UK freight forwarding businesses that have IS014001 accreditation is relatively very small.  

Whilst working towards accreditation, Davies Turner conducted waste material processing reviews and utilised new and improved balers and compactors, which led to reductions in waste sent to landfill and generated some income through materials recycling.  

The company plans to cascade the EMS to the other 14 branches and freight hubs within the Davies Turner Group’s network in the UK and Ireland, with the aim of progressively implementing the ISO standard at other locations.  

“Over the last few years, we have also seen our clients seeking greater evidence that Davies Turner is fully engaged with environmental, social and governance issues or objectives. Some are making ISO14001 a requirement for suppliers with which they work, providing reassurance that they are dealing with a responsible company which understands its responsibilities for safeguarding the environment,” said Philip Stephenson, chairman of the Davies Turner Group.  

According to gov.uk, environmental permits require having a written management system or a set of procedures to describe what you will do to minimise the risk of pollution from the waste activities covered by the permit. UK companies need to apply for bespoke permits from the Environmental Agency if waste operations are not under the standard rules permit, which include the use of inert landfill and deposit for recovery. 

A guide on UK environmental law from Thomson Reuters explained that the sanction for breach of such laws is prosecution of an individual or company by the relevant regulator in the criminal courts, with penalties tantamount to fines and imprisonment.