Forestry Stewardship Council accreditation
Sonae UK are certified chain of custody holders to the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) scheme and are subject to regular audits to ensure that raw wood material stock used at every stage of the manufacture is traceable to known and sustainable sources.
A Forestry Stewardship Council logo on a product provides a guarantee that the material in it originates from environmentally friendly and sustainable sources. Sonae products carry the FSC logo, and recently Sonae piloted a new scheme for the FSC which recognises the unique recycled raw material content of Sonae board. As a result products from the Knowley plant carry an FSC Mixed Sources’ label.
FSC is an international, non-governmental organisation dedicated to promoting responsible management of the world's forests. It was founded in 1993 in response to public concern about deforestation and demand for a trustworthy wood-labelling scheme. There are national working groups in 28 countries including the UK.
It is supported by non-governmental organisations including WWF, Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and the Woodland Trust.
FSC chain of custody standard and certifying organisations for chain of custody approval track the timber through every stage in the supply chain from the forest to the final user. This is monitored through the invoicing process and the final label on the product has a code that confirms that the item is genuinely FSC
BS EN 312 International Quality Standard for Particleboard
All products produced by the Sonae Knowsley plant are produced to exact blends. This ensures that product is constantly produced to the same high standards and that the quality performance of the product is maintained. All products are tested to meet and exceed the requirements of the latest British Standard specifications.
Particleboard products are subject to rigorous and routine testing to ensure quality consistency and product performance includes both mechanical and climatic testing.
Conformity European Marking
Sonae UK acquired CE marking certification in 2003 for all products manufactured at their Knowsley site in Liverpool.
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The CE Marking indicates conformity to the legal requirements of EU Directives one of which is the Construction Products Directive. CE marking gives companies easier access into the European market to sell their products without adaptation or rechecking. The initials do not stand for any specific words but are a declaration by the manufacturer that his product meets the requirements of the applicable European Directives.
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Many of the EU Directives require manufacturers to have a Certified Quality System to ISO 9000 in operation and to use the assistance of a Notified Body in order that the manufacturer can legitimately apply the CE Marking to their product.
ISO 9001 Quality Management Standard
Sonae UK are certified by en external accreditation body to ensure compliance to the above Quality Management System is maintained. In addition, Sonae UK constantly strive for continuous improvement in its plant and processes. The organisations success was, and remains, attributable to a this confirmed commitment to quality.
ISO 14001 Environmental Management Standard
Sonae UK are certified by en external accreditation body to ensure compliance to the above Environmental Management System is maintained. Sonae at Knowsley has operated under ISO 14001 certification since 2001.
BBA Certification
Sonae UK achieved BBA certification for its Safedek product in December 2004. This enables the sale of the Safedek product brand into the construction sector by proving that the product satisfies UK Building Regulations. Click here to visit BBA website. |
