Coveted certification for Sekisui House

Residential property builder and developer Sekisui House has attained ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management System (EMS) certification across its business operations in Australia. The company is reported to be the only manufacturer in the residential construction industry to hold the coveted international accreditation.

Based in Osaka, Japan, Sekisui House has over 24,000 employees globally, with a corporate philosophy focused on creating homes and communities that improve with time and last for generations. Sekisui House is claimed to be the global leader in the construction of net-zero-energy homes with more than 44,000 built since the product was launched in 2013.

Sekisui House Australia WHS&E Manager Darren Butt said, “Sekisui House and our SHAWOOD products continue to be industry leaders for innovation and compliance. This latest certification positions Sekisui House as the only company with active JAS-ANZ ISO 14001:2015 certification for manufacturing in the residential construction industry.

“Together with our AS/NZS 4801:2001 OH&S certification, achieving the latest EMS endorsement has strengthened our resolve to set the benchmark for safety and environmental sustainability.”

Sekisui House’s Manufacturing and Quality Control Centre in Ingleburn, NSW, engineers and manufactures SHAWOOD’s glulam (glued laminated timber) posts and beams, timber trusses and infill timber frames, and is used to warehouse SHAWOOD’s Japanese imported materials. The 7200 m² centre uses highly technical computerised machinery, including an imported SHAWOOD combined processor and frame and truss timber cutting machine.

“Sekisui House’s global environmental value is about preserving natural ecosystems and reducing the development’s impact on the environment,” Butt said. “Our company and people are always working towards a balanced approach in this area.

“These certifications reinforce our holistic approach in construction and manufacturing. We lead the industry in our designs, products and manufacturing processes, which is achieved by ensuring safety and environmental compliance is applied throughout every stage,” he said.

ISO 14001:2015 certification involves presenting a documented and functioning EMS; providing evidence that the EMS processes are practically applied throughout business operations; reporting, recording and monitoring of the application’s effectiveness; and Kaizen applications (systems for continual improvement) for internal environmental controls.

Michael Boa, Conformity Assessment Manager at International Certifications Australia, said, “Sekisui House has demonstrated leadership and commitment to developing and implementing the Environmental Management System. This is reflected in the strong level of conformity against standard requirements to develop and maintain a management system for environmental improvement in sustainability and prevention of pollution.

“Audits of the Ingleburn Manufacturing and Quality Control Centre provided an insight into Sekisui House’s commitment to implementing this certification, through the presentation of a clean and functional factory for employees, high levels of alignment with waste recycling and many operational practices in environmental sustainability,” Boa said.

Image courtesy of Sekisui House.