Polyflor, the UK's leading commercial and residential vinyl flooring specialist, has become the only flooring manufacturer to achieve an ‘Excellent’ rating for BES 6001 certification, a standard for the Responsible Sourcing of Construction Products as certified by the BRE.
After being the first flooring manufacturer to obtain BES 6001 certification in 2015 with a ‘Very Good’ rating, Polyflor has further improved responsible sourcing procedures at their Whitefield and Riverside manufacturing facilities to successfully achieve the highest possible ‘Excellent’ rating. Polyflor remains the only floorcovering manufacturer to obtain the BES 6001 standard.
Polyflor’s Whitefield site, which has been manufacturing for over 100 years, was awarded a score of 51 out of a maximum 52 points by BRE auditors. This score is a great achievement as it is the highest ever score awarded by the BRE for the BES 6001 standard, with over 60 companies being assessed around the world.
This third party audited certification gives independent assurance that Polyflor’s products are manufactured conforming to the highest responsible sourcing standards. Now in its 3rd issue, the BES 6001 Framework standard for Responsible Sourcing sets out requirements under three main headings: Organisational Management; Supply Chain Management and Environmental and Social Responsibility Management.
Improving their BES 6001 rating has been a massive undertaking for Polyflor, as gaining an ‘Excellent’ rating for this rigorous standard has taken input from all areas of the business over the past two years, with changes made to the supplier base they use, the way things are recorded and the way environmental performance is reported in Polyflor’s Sustainability Report. The hard work and challenges set out by the BES 6001 framework has driven Polyflor to scrutinize their own supply chain more than ever before with even more commitment to using trusted, local suppliers who are ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified.
The BES 6001 standard helps customers make better informed decisions when selecting a supplier with sound environmental credentials and also benefits those looking to achieve a high BREEAM score on their sustainable building projects where every point counts. The use of Polyflor products with ‘Excellent’ BES 6001 certification on a project can gain an additional 3.5 points to the Materials section MAT 03 (Responsible Sourcing for Materials) of a BREEAM Assessment.
“We’re incredibly proud to have improved our BES 6001 rating to ‘Excellent’ this year, and to be leading the way in our industry as the first flooring manufacturer to achieve this important responsible sourcing standard. It has taken dedication and hard work from the Polyflor team to ensure that the economic, social and environmental impacts of our business are handled in the most ethical way. This standard is far ranging, encompassing many facets and departments of the business. We’re delighted to have reached this milestone in our commitment to sustainable development and we will continue to look for ways to make further progress.” Said Steve Mulholland, Manufacturing Director.
BES 6001 certification is one of Polyflor’s many sustainability and corporate social responsibility credentials, sitting alongside ISO 14001, individual BRE A+ ratings, EN 15804 EPDs, Indoor Air Comfort Gold, FloorScore and Recofloor.
