We’re thrilled to share the news that we’ve officially achieved ISO 14001:2015 certification, marking a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to environmental responsibility.
What This Means for Us
ISO 14001 is the internationally recognised standard for environmental management systems. It’s a framework that helps organisations like ours minimise environmental impact, stay compliant with regulations, and continuously improve our environmental performance. For North South Wines, this certification demonstrates that we’ve implemented a systematic approach to managing everything from waste reduction and energy efficiency to carbon footprint management.
This achievement didn’t happen overnight. It’s the result of an 18-month programme that involved our entire team working closely with supply partners to embed sustainable practices throughout our operations. Whilst many of these practices were already part of how we work, the certification process has given us a robust framework for documenting and standardising our environmental activities across the business.
What We’ve Learned
One of the most valuable outcomes has been the formalisation of our environmental policies and processes. This creates a clear evidence trail that enables us to communicate our sustainability efforts more effectively – not just internally, but with our partners and customers too.
We’ve also developed a detailed SWOT analysis and Risks and Opportunities Matrix for sustainability, demonstrating the direct connection between our environmental activities and business objectives. The continuous improvement approach embedded in ISO 14001 means we can now identify root causes of issues and implement preventative measures, rather than simply addressing problems as they arise.
Looking Ahead
As our MD and founder Kim Wilson puts it: “This is a significant milestone for us, and I couldn’t be prouder of the team for their hard work and dedication. Every member, past and present, has played a crucial role in diving in, making necessary changes, and getting the job done.”
This certification is another important step towards our sustainability vision and goals. The framework it provides helps us improve and embed better practices across the business. With upcoming changes in standards for B Corp recertification, achieving ISO 14001 helps us focus our efforts on the climate action pillar—one of the areas where we believe we can make the most impact.
Both B Corp and ISO 14001 emphasise continuous improvement and following a clear roadmap. This journey not only strengthens our internal team but also engages our stakeholders, who come along with us every step of the way.
A Team Effort
None of this would have been possible without the dedication of the North South Wines team and our supply partners. Their willingness to embrace and drive these changes has been instrumental in our success.
The ISO 14001 certification complements our existing B Corp status, furthering our mission to drive positive change across the wine industry. We’re excited to continue this journey and to share our progress with you along the way.