Textured Jersey’s EMS Initiatives recognised with ISO 14001 certification

Textured Jersey Lanka (TJ) whose sustainable business practices extend not only to its financial sustainability, but also to its environmental social responsibilities, has been recognised for its efforts with the coveted ISO 14001 Certification for Environmental Management Systems (EMS).

The company has made a conscious commitment towards creating a greener, healthier and safer world for their future generations by making sustainability a core pillar of its business model.  

Pubudu de Silva of TJ receiving the ISO Certification from Kuruppumullage of Ind Expo

From left: Textured Jersey Lanka Deputy Manager Compliance, Health and Safety E.A.D.S. Sujeewa, Ind-Expo Certification Manager Aruna Amaradasa, Ind-Expo Certification Director/Chief Executive Officer D.N.S. Kuruppumullage, Textured Jersey Lanka Chief Operating Officer – Operations Pubudu De Silva, Textured Jersey Lanka Chemical Engineer MsIshara Embogama, Textured Jersey Lanka Deputy General Manager – Corporate Communication and CSR Samadhi Weerakoon, Textured Jersey Lanka Deputy Manager  Environmental and Sustainability Rasika Gunawardana

“Seeing the ever growing need to protect the planet we live in, TJ initiated a number of different projects from GHG emission monitoring and controlling, energy and resource reduction, including sustainability publications to build awareness amongst our associates and partners,” says TJ COO Operations Pubudu de Silva.  

ISO 14001 Certification institutes a strict, internationally recognised system of environmental management and procedures that require organisations to be compliant. Pubudu de Silva says that participation in ISO 14001 drives a disciplined approach to managing and improving the manner in which a company such as TJ impacts the environment. 

“The system’s application determines specific targets for each manufacturing and business operation, creating the highest possible standards of ecological quality. We are also to adopt a web-based platform for this management system along with ISO 9001 integration, allowing the company to not only follow an internationally accepted system, but to do so in a paper-less environment with more convenience.”

TJ who aligned its sustainability goals in accordance with ISO 14001 standards, began the certification process in 2015 by creating a system consisting of a number of documented procedures. It went through a stringent evaluation process where their conformity to guidelines and activation of an up-to-date management system were judged by an expert team. TJ who completed the process on 26 May, successfully obtaining certification says that it is a win-win for the employees who showed commitment and engagement; a key factor in ensuring observance of environmental regulations, preventing pollution, and continuously working to reduce environmental impact. 

The COO says, “Following ISO 14001 procedures make sense for TJ, as a textile manufacturer we use a number of natural resources, therefore, successful compliance to the system not only builds trust amongst our business partners but we are also creating an environmentally conscious work force.” 

Director/CEO Shantha Kuruppumullage of Ind Expo Ltd., the certification company established by the Ceylon National Chamber of Industries with the support of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) says that ISO 14001 EMS Standard has been established with the intention of encouraging both production and service providing companies to behave and operate in an environmentally friendly manner and in so doing to motivate companies to make optimum use of their resources while minimising waste and risk.  

“The award of this certificate has been done through a comprehensive evaluation process and the commitment and dedication shown by the TJ team involved in the various aspects of system requirements is commendable,” he said