Dryvit Systems’ Columbus, Ga., and Sand Springs, Okla., manufacturing facilities are ISO 14001:2004 certified after auditing by National Quality Assurance. These certifications are the first for the exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS) manufacturer, which aims for compliance in all five of its North American factories by the end of 2007. The company is the only EIFS manufacturer to comply with such strict standards.
ISO 14001:2004 is a voluntary standard for an environmental management system that specifies strict guidelines for reducing, reusing, and recycling waste and materials throughout the manufacturing process. The International Standards Organization in Geneva oversees the standard, but independent agencies audit companies’ compliance before awarding certification. It does not apply directly to any product but rather to a company’s process, so Dryvit reviewed everything from offices in the factory to employee training. Part of the commitment to ISO 14001 requires Dryvit to continue improving, something the company is seeking to do. “Receiving the ISO 14001 certification … is an important step in Dryvit’s ongoing commitment to making our environment footprint as small as possible,” says Tony Stall, Dryvit’s vice president of marketing.