Wärtsilä Corporation, Press Release 27.8.2001
The international classification and certification society Det Norske Veritas has granted Wärtsilä’s Finnish companies, Wärtsilä Finland Oy and Wärtsilä Technology Oy, ISO 14001 environmental certification in recognition of the functionality of Wärtsilä’s environmental management system. Wärtsilä’s ISO 14001 environmental management system covers all the company’s operations: sales, manufacturing, R&D and service.
ISO 14001 is an international environmental standard highly respected by the customers. A product range that addresses environmental issues offers a clear competitive advantage in the marine and power plant markets. Wärtsilä’s engines meet all current environmental requirements and Wärtsilä’s goal is to exploit new technologies to achieve further reductions in emission levels. At the international level environmental impacts are regulated on the marine side by the International Maritime Organization (IMO)and, in the power plant market, by the World Bank.
The ISO 14001 environmental certificate is the result of systematic work by Wärtsilä’s Finnish units in pursuit of better environmental performance. This work involved the participation of all employees. The units also have specific environmental teams that have supported and guided the environmental development work undertaken by the units. The teams have additionally created a system for steering and monitoring environmental matters and for maintaining the pace of improvement.
Gaining an environmental certificate requires continuous improvements in environmental performance which are monitored by audits carried out by an independent third party. The environmental system in force in Wärtsilä’s Finnish units will henceforth be audited every year and improvements in environmental issues are monitored among other things by indicators describing the performance of the engines and the environmental impacts of Wärtsilä’s operations. These indicators are described in Wärtsilä Group’s Environmental Report.
International recognition for Wärtsilä’s products
In May 2001 Wärtsilä and its partner Carnival Corporation received an award for the best environmental contribution within the cruise and ferry industry. The award was granted by Lloyd's List during the Cruise & Ferry Exhibition 2001 in London. The award is in recognition of the diesel engine that successfully applies common rail and water injection technology for the good of the environment.
The goal of Wärtsilä’s R&D work is to manufacture engines that impose the smallest possible impact on the environment. The best means of reducing the environmental impact of engines is to raise their total efficiency and to develop emissions reduction techniques. Raising total efficiency reduces fuel consumption and therefore emission levels. Wärtsilä has achieved good results in both these areas, recognition of which is the award described above.
Wärtsilä’s first environmental report published
Wärtsilä Group published its first Environmental Report in June 2001. The report’s contents focus on Wärtsilä’s R&D and its products. A second area of priority is the operations of Wärtsilä’s production units and their environmental impacts. The Environmental Report has been prepared in compliance with the new international GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) reporting principles. The next report will be published in two years’ time.
General information about Wärtsilä
Wärtsilä is the leading global ship power supplier and a major provider of solutions for decentralized power generation and of supporting services. Wärtsilä also has a Nordic engineering and steel company and manages substantial shareholdings to support the development of its core business. Wärtsilä’s consolidated net sales in 2000 totalled EUR 2.7 billion and the Group has 10,500 employees worldwide.
Heikki Miilumäki
President
Wärtsilä Finland Oy
Direct tel: +358-10-709 0000
e-mail:heikki.miilumaki@wartsila.com
