ESMA will launch a new ‘Approved Supplier’ scheme during EcoPrint Europe 2012 in September. The ‘Approved Supplier’ scheme was developed in support of the customers of ESMA Member companies (Members), who asked for some way of demonstrating that they purchase from reputable suppliers that are producing quality products and services.
ESMA was founded in 1990 as the Association of European Manufacturers of Screen printing equipment and supplies. ESMA is a non profit making organisation, funded by Members to work on behalf of them and their customers. In 2000, ESMA extended membership to companies manufacturing machinery and consumables for the Digital Imaging market. The ESMA membership now includes many of the major European manufacturers of machinery and consumables produced for the specialist printing industry, accounting for a significant proportion of products and services supplied to both European and global markets. This year, ESMA opened its membership to consultants and print service providers, further expanding the representation of ESMA.
The ESMA slogan ‘Driving Print Excellence’ is bound in the objectives of the organisation to promote quality products and specialist printing processes that are produced by Members with strong health, safety and environmental values, through the work of various ESMA Committees, exhibitions, the press, public relations, technical training and research. The ESMA Approved Supplier scheme is a further step in the goal of ESMA to drive print excellence. The scheme is set to eventually operate with three levels, Primary, Middle and Top tier, which are outlined below:
Primary Tier
The organisation self certifies by completing an on line form using check boxes to respond to a number of questions probing the organisation’s status on Quality and Environment. A positive response must be applied to all questions, in order to achieve primary level approval. The organisation must also have ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 Certification, or equivalent policies, management systems and procedures on quality and environment and have completed an internal register of their legal duties.
Organisations self certifying to the primary level must be committed to continuous improvement and the consistent delivery of robust, good quality products and services.
Middle Tier
The rationale t this level is that Members must be able to demonstrate enhanced performance: These organisations strive for excellence in the quality of their products and services. They will have a high level of corporate social responsibility and senior management commitment to achieving the highest performance standards. These organisations will lead by example and commit resource to help industry to improve performance and standards.
Top Tier
This will be awarded to an organisation who can demonstrate innovative or novel systems, technology or cultural achievements leading to an outstanding health, safety or environmental performance, or quality of products/services. It is hoped that this prestigious award will be presented formally at an awards ceremony.
The Scheme will be introduced with the launch of the Primary tier, available for subscription in 2013. The middle and top tiers will follow later, with successful launch of the primary level. It is only open to ESMA Members and only those Members that satisfy the qualifying criteria: ESMA Approval can only be awarded to fully paid up members of ESMA who have been members for two years or more, and who have verified compliance to the requirements as set out by ESMA, by completing the online Self Validation Survey, agreed to the Terms and Conditions and paid the Joining Fee. Successful organisations will be entitled to use a Logo on their product labels, company documentation and website.
It will be the individual company’s responsibility to inform ESMA if they no longer meet the requirements, from which time they will then be required to discontinue the use of the Logo on their company documents, their website and all other company literature. This will also apply in the case that they are no longer members of ESMA.
The idea for an ESMA Approval scheme was initiated by the ESMA Applications Committee Chairman, who with the ESMA Board endorsed the work achieved by the ESMA Health, Safety and Environmental Protection (HSEP) Committee in developing the structure and defining criteria of the scheme.
The HSEP Committee is experienced in deciphering complex legislation and developing organisational compliance strategies. Their work has helped to successfully guide ESMA Members through the difficult times of the REACH and CLP Regulations, representing Members interests in negotiating with regulatory bodies and providing information, support and guidance to both Members and their customers. The HSEP Committee develops Best Practice standards and publishes information on European legislation, chemical hazards, safety data sheets, labelling and other HSE related topics.
The HSEP Committee will hold its Golden Jubilee Meeting early next spring in 2013 i.e. 50th Meeting, representing many years of dedicated work by this Committee, who will celebrate the exciting launch of the ‘Approved Supplier’ scheme in its golden jubilee year, entering into a new phase of ESMA.
Although yet to be finalised, it is expected that ESMA Members will apply for the second and top tier prestigious award by submitting an application that will be externally validated by a third party body. It is hoped that all categories will feature significantly in the applications; aside from strong health & safety values, ESMA is committed to encouraging both the green credentials of its Members and the quality of the products and services they supply.
Self certifiy your company by completing this online form
