Case studyGlobal logistics provider, TNT, uses ISO 14001to reinforce its company objectives to reduceits environmental impact

TNT and Business AssuranceTNT UK & Ireland was originally LRQAcertified to ISO 9001 for qualitymanagement, OHSAS 18001 for health& safety management and hadInvestors in People for thedevelopment and training of TNT staff.

TNT UK & Ireland approached LRQAagain, as part of the group’s StrategicEnvironmental Objective to achieve ISO 14001 for its environmentalmanagement system globally.

All four of these standards have now beenachieved for TNT’s global business. In termsof the competitive advantage this brings,TNT believes it is the only express logisticsand mail service provider in the UK andIreland to hold standards companywide forquality, environmental and health & safetymanagement systems.

The road to ISO 14001TNT recognises that almost one fifth ofCO2 emissions globally are derived fromtransport activities and as a globaloperator, the company acknowledges thatit has an important role to play inenvironmental protection.

Having worked with LRQA for many years,TNT first contracted LRQA to evaluate apilot environmental management systemagainst ISO 14001 at their Wellingboroughdepot in Northamptonshire.

The pilot scheme was a success and as aresult, the decision was taken to roll theenvironmental management system out tothe entire TNT UK & Ireland network of 90main locations.

At the same time TNT established anumber of key global objectives. One was to reduce the company’s carbonfootprint and the second to gain externaland independent recognition ofenvironmental performance.

“The LRQA approach is focussedaround Business Assurance and addingvalue. We like the LRQA way of doingthings, as their process is not just a tickin the box.”

Neil Griffiths, Director of Health Safety & Environmental, TNT Express Services

As a global operator in the expresslogistics and mail service, TNT hasderived major benefits from its ISO 14001-certificated environmentalmanagement system.

About TNTIn more than 200 countries across theworld, TNT provides businesses andconsumers with an extensive range ofservices for their mail and expressdelivery needs.

The numbers• €10.4 billion revenue in 2009• More than 155,000 employees

worldwide• TNT operates over 30,000 vehicles

(3,200 in the UK) and 48 aircraftglobally

Websitewww.tnt.com

Standards achieved• ISO 14001 (for environment)• ISO 9001 (for operational excellence)• OHSAS 18001 (for workplace safety)• Investors in People (for personal

development of employees)

ISO 14001 at TNTISO 14001 certification plans weredeveloped by the TNT Corporate HeadOffice in consultation with business unitsand external consultants.

Under its environmental managementplan, TNT has pledged to protect theenvironment by becoming the world’s firstzero emission transport company. TNT hasalso set a target of achieving a 45%improvement in CO2 efficiency by 2020,based on 2007 levels. This will be no meanfeat for one of the world’s largest air androad transport companies.

As part of the UK & Ireland target toimprove CO2 efficiency, the Business Unithas introduced 51 zero-emission 7.5t fleetvehicles for urban deliveries; the largest ofits kind in the transport world.

TNT believes that corporate activities,combined with individual actions, canmake a profound difference in the fightagainst climate change.

It has received widespread public acclaimas a result of its ISO 14001 certification,which has also generated a number of‘green’ initiatives including the ambitiouscarbon reduction programme, ‘Planet Me’.

Within TNT UK & Ireland, this programmeincludes measures such as introducingrenewable electricity supply at depots,improved waste management, videoconferencing, adoption of computerisedroute planning solutions, training for safeand fuel efficient driving, plus installationof SMART metering to accurately captureelectricity and gas consumption across allmain locations.

Competitive benefitsTNT has reported significant competitiveadvantage from the achievement of thefour standards listed overleaf. However,certification also features prominently as arequirement in many customer tenders.

Neil Griffiths, Director of Health Safety andEnvironmental at TNT Express Services UK& Ireland, said, “Many customers aredelighted that we have achievedcertification as it blends with their owncommitment to reduce environmentalimpact from their activities.

As their carrier, we are an extension oftheir business and the fact that we have ISO 14001 certification assists andsupports them to achieve their ownenvironmental objectives.”

Key benefits of ISO 14001Certification• TNT UK has received widespread public

acclaim as a result of its ISO 14001certification and the initiatives that haveresulted from it

• Certification by LRQA, an internationallyrespected certification body, providestransparent, authoritative proof forstakeholders that TNT has created andimplemented a sustainableenvironmental management plan

• Cost reductions• Competitive advantage• Helps to ensure that TNT fulfils its

obligations in the fight against climate change

• Ensures implementation ofenvironmental objectives at all levelswithin TNT both operationally andindividually

• Helps create business systems thatcontinuously improve environmentalperformance

• Ensures a holistic approach toenvironmental management

Working with LRQALRQA has played a pivotal role in theorganisation’s environmental strategy asNeil Griffiths explains,“The LRQA approachis focussed around Business Assurance andadding value.

We like the LRQA way of doing things, astheir process is not just a tick in the box.LRQA takes a holistic approach toenvironmental management and they havegiven us some excellent advice on how wecan improve our performance.

The real value of using external assessmentis in a fresh pair of eyes looking at the waythat we do things. LRQA assessors comewith ideas from other industry sectors andcan share best practice in terms of how wecan improve.

We work closely with LRQA in generatingimprovement through our certifiedmanagement systems. We now operate anintegrated health, safety andenvironmental management system.

For the first time later this year, our LRQAassessment team will be carrying out acombined audit against the threestandards, OHSAS 18001, ISO 14001 andISO 9001, which is a significant stepforward for our business.

For us, certification is not a case of gettingcertificates for the wall, but about creatingcontinuous improvement and otherbusiness benefits through having robustmanagement systems.”

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