Kodak Aims for 100% ISO 14000 Certification

Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, N.Y., is running ahead of its own schedule to certify its worldwide manufacturing sites to the ISO 14000 standards. ISO 14000 standards are guidelines for environmental management systems established by the International Organization for Standardization. Kodak's goal is to have all of its facilities at least registration ready by the end of this year.

"Four plants have achieved certification, three others are in the process and expect to be certified by year-end," says Richard Poduska, Kodak's director of health, safety, and environmental affairs for worldwide manufacturing.

Last year the BASO Precision Optics facility in Taiwan became the first Kodak plant to achieve ISO 14000 certification. Since then, Kodak's plants in Chalon, France; and Annesley, England, have been certified. On May 7 Kodak's manufacturing plant in Windsor, Colo., became the first facility in that state to attain ISO 14000 registration.

"There aren't many companies trying to bring their corporate system in line with these standards," says Kodak Vice President R. Hays Bell, director of health, safety, and environment for Kodak. "We believe it is not only appropriate, but a necessity as we drive toward the highest achievable levels of performance."