Lantmännen Unibake Sweden acquires ISO 14001 certification

As part of the Lantmännen cooperative, it’s an integrated part of Lantmännen Unibake’s self-understanding to do business in a sensible and responsible way. But even good efforts need a framework to have an environmental impact.

Therefore, in the end of 2018 Lantmännen Unibake in Sweden decided to implement an Environmental Management System (EMS) to work systematically with sustainability across all business units and processes – including external partnerships.

“It’s not that we haven’t done environmental projects in the past. For example, we have switched to LED light bulbs, we have converted from fossil fuels to Rapeseed Oil Methyl Esters – known as RME – and such. But our projects were not done in a specific order, and they didn’t fit into a masterplan,” says Pernilla Rydberg, Quality and Environmental Manager in Lantmännen Unibake’s Swedish business. “With an EMS we can map everything we do across the full value chain from procurement to operations, marketing, sales, production and so forth.”

Continuous improvements
Using the requirements described in the ISO 14001 standard Lantmännen Unibake in Sweden has now defined a baseline for their sustainability activities, and they can identify which projects have the largest environmental impact.

“Most importantly our management team now have the right tools to drive innovation with environmental sustainability at its heart. It’s part of the annual audit that we can document progress from year to year. So, continuous improvements are an integrated part of our efforts going forward,” says Pernilla Rydberg

19 training days
ISO 14001 also makes it easier to communicate goals and targets to employees.

“Our journey is linked directly to UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. But when we are able to focus our efforts on something that each and every one of us can do differently in daily life, the goals become more tangible,” says Pernilla Rydberg and explains that the employees have meet the enhanced focus on climate changes and environmental issues with a positive attitude.

“We have carried out 19 training days with all employees, and that has definitely raised awareness. But it has also contributed to a feeling of being truly engaged in the sustainability agenda. Everybody wants to do their part,” Pernilla Rydberg ends.