Sustainability and compliance as a structural ambition
Essilor International is a manufacturer of plastic eyeglass lenses and is strongly committed to sustainable and responsible business practices. Environment, safety, and compliance are an integral part of the business operations. With this ambition, Essilor has chosen to set up the environmental management system in accordance with the requirements of ISO 14001.
With the introduction of the revised ISO 14001:2015 standard, the need arose to adapt the existing environmental management system accordingly. Essilor asked Lexerta to guide this transition process and, at the same time, to further structure and demonstrate broader HSE compliance.
Transition to ISO 14001:2015 and insight into compliance
The transition to ISO 14001:2015 requires more than a technical adjustment of procedures. The new standard places extra emphasis on context analysis, risk-based working, compliance obligations, and continuous improvement. For Essilor, it was important to carefully translate these requirements into practice.
In addition, Essilor wanted to gain better insight into which environmental legislation and other HSE obligations apply, and how these are safeguarded within the organization. The goal was not only to document compliance, but also to make it demonstrable and manageable.
Guidance for ISO Transition and Establishment of HSE Compliance
Lexerta assisted Essilor in the transition to ISO 14001:2015, with attention to both the substantive requirements of the standard and the practical application within the organization. In this process, an inventory was first made of which environmental and compliance obligations are relevant for Essilor, including legal and voluntary requirements.
Next, it was jointly examined how these obligations are translated into processes, responsibilities, and working methods. Lexerta supported the structuring of this information, so it became clear how compliance is ensured within daily operations.
As part of this approach, Lexerta periodically conducts compliance audits. This assesses whether the setup of the environmental management system and compliance with obligations remain current and effective, even when laws and regulations change.
Demonstrable compliance and a future-proof environmental management system
Thanks to the guidance of Lexerta, Essilor has successfully set up the environmental management system in accordance with ISO 14001:2015. Compliance obligations are clearly documented and linked to practice, providing insight into both compliance and opportunities for improvement.
The periodic audits and structural support ensure that the system remains up to date and that Essilor demonstrably complies with relevant environmental legislation and standard requirements. Essilor experiences the collaboration as effective and practical:
“With extensive expertise in the field of environment and environmental systems and a structured approach, Lexerta has managed to complete this implementation process very effectively.”
With this approach, Essilor has a solid foundation for environmental management and HSE compliance, in line with the organization’s sustainability ambitions and prepared for future developments.
