Bio Extracts leads the way with ISO 14001 – Environmental Management System certification

Bio Extracts (Pvt) Ltd manufacturers of the popular Baraka brand of Natural healthcare products was awarded the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System certification by SGS Lanka. The importance of being kind to the environment to ensure future sustainability was a focus of Bio Extracts to achieve excellence in their manufacturing process. In its quest for excellence Bio Extracts continues to upgrade its standards having obtained the GMP, ISO 22000; HACCP and Halal certifications.

Bio Extracts (Pvt) Ltd CEO Riza Bahardeen (left) receives the certification from SGS Lanka’s Systems & Services Certification, Business Manager Batuvita Sumanasiri. Others from left are Manupriya Hettiarachchi (Research & Development Executive), HemanthaJayasinghe (Production / Maintenance Manager), Hansa Sumanadasa (Head of Production), Mr. Thisariarachchi (Consultant)

Bio Extracts is registered with the Department of Ayurveda, Ministry of Indigenous Medicine. Bio Extracts has been manufacturing and exporting its range of natural and herbal healthcare products and supplements since 1993 to over 30 countries around worldwide, while their local arm Expolanka Pharmaceuticals handles the marketing and distribution countrywide. The Baraka healthcare range covers health supplements for control of diabetes, cholesterol, joint pain, weight reduction and many other health issues. Bio Extracts is a member of the Expolanka Holdings Group, a conglomerate leading in various business sectors

ISO 14001, as with other ISO 14000 standards, is voluntary (IISD 2010), with its main aim to assist companies in continually improving their environmental performance, whilst complying with any applicable legislation. Organisations are responsible for setting their own targets and performance measures, with the standard serving to assist them in meeting objectives and goals and the subsequent monitoring and measurement of these (IISD 2010). This means that two organisations that have completely different measures and standards of environmental performance, can both comply with ISO 14001 requirements (Federal Facilities Council Report 1999).

The standard highlights what an organisation needs to do to meet these goals (IISD 2010). ISO 14001 can be integrated with other management functions and assists companies in meeting their environmental and economic goals. Success of the system is very dependent on commitment from all levels of the organisation, which need to be actively involved in the development, implementation and maintenance of the environmental management system (iso14001.com.au 2010). In 2008 there were an estimated 188 000 companies from 155 countries, certified as ISO 14001 compliant (ISO14001.com.au 2010). ISO 14001 was developed primarily to assist companies in reducing their environmental impact, but in addition to an improvement in environmental standards and performance, reduction in waste and consumption of resources, operating costs can be reduced (ISO14001.com.au. There has been a push in the last decade by consumers, for companies to adopt stricter environmental regulations, making the incorporation of ISO 14001 a greater necessity for the long term viability of businesses (Delmas&Montiel 2009).