With its sustainable solutions and excellent environmental performance, UPM wants to be the front-runner in the new innovation-driven bio and forest industry. UPM has applied management systems to both manage and continuously improve its performance in the areas of environment and health and safety, as well as quality.
Environmental Management Systems
Almost all of UPM's production sites, as well as wood-sourcing and forestry operations, have a verified environmental management system in place. UPM's aim is that all of its production units will have an environmental management system certification by the year 2020, including possible new units and acquisitions.
Environmental management systems assist a company in identifying and controlling the environmental impact of its activities and products, and in improving its environmental performance on an ongoing basis.
UPM is using the international ISO 14001 environmental management system. In addition, most of the UPM paper mills in Europe use the European Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS).
EMAS is an EU regulation, which, in addition to similar procedures in ISO 14001, requires regular publication of an environmental statement approved by a third-party verifier.
Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems
Occupational health and safety activities are governed by UPM’s Occupational Health and Safety Rules. The occupational health and safety management system is followed in all production sites.
Nearly all of UPM’s paper mills, and many of its other production sites, are also OHSAS (Occupation Health and Safety Assessment Series) 18001 certified. Occupational health and safety management systems help a company to eliminate or minimise the risk to employees and other interested parties who may be exposed to occupational health and safety risks associated with its activities.
Quality Management System
Most of UPM's production sites, as well as wood-sourcing and forestry operations, have established a verified quality management system according to the ISO 9001 standard, in order to constantly improve quality and to ensure that the needs and expectations of customers are met.
Requirements for suppliers
UPM prefers to co-operate with suppliers that apply a documented, certified environmental management system in their operations.
The system shall satisfy the requirements of ISO 14001 or other internationally recognised standards to ensure the effective planning, management and control of performance, including the quality of products and services throughout the company.
If the purchased products directly or fundamentally influence UPM's end product, or if the spend is significant, UPM requires that the suppliers have valid ISO 9001 certification.
If the supplier does not have the valid certification, or another internationally recognised relevant standard, UPM will audit the supplier’s operations to ensure that the appropriate standards are met.
Furthermore, UPM prefers suppliers whose occupational health and safety management system is OHSAS certified.