Standards are sought for one of three reasons. One is to establish a mechanism to meet a need driven by industry and the marketplace. The next is to achieve agreement through consensus when a common objective is desired by a number of varied stakeholders. Finally, governments establish regulatory standards focusing on health, safety, consumer protection or for some kind of public good. As shown in the matrix below, standards can be voluntary or mandated.
Recycling operators who have provided recycled glass to Consumers Glass in the past are already familiar with its de Facto product standard, the specifications issued for furnace and non-furnace ready recycled glass.
Many people have also heard about ISO 9000, the quality management series of standards. Adopting these standards enable businesses to do the right thing the first time, every time and always to the customers satisfaction. In many sectors this is seen as critical to being competitive.
It is a way to define how to do something, just like a drivers license. Specific rules may change with location but having the license gives the recipient the right to drive as long as local rules are obeyed.
Consumers Glass will be certified against ISO 9001 within the next year. Rosen Continental is going for certification against ISO 9002.
Consumers Glass has also already decided to implement ISO 14000, a process standard which defines an organization's environmental management system. This will follow the development work for the Canadian Raw Material Database that Consumers Glass is participating in with Environment Canada and other industry players. The Database is developing an input/output model that will enable the company to delineate environmental aspects against a national model. Consumers Glass expects to be certified to ISO 14001 in 1998.
1996 is the second milestone year for the National Packaging Protocol. To be successful, all types of packaging have to divert 35% from disposal in 1996 compared to 1988.
In preparation for this milestone, Statistics Canada will be conducting a preparatory study to review survey methodology to economize on costs while maintaining data integrity and comparability.
During the first quarter of 1997, from mid February to April, the surveys will go out to industry to be completed. The results will be compiled in late September with a document ready for publication by December 1997.
Sharpen your pencils!
"Cracking the Case of the Missing Glass" submitted by St. Joseph's Middle School of Swift Current Saskatchewan. St. Joseph's Middle School is a double header winner, having placed first last year. Top notch detectives!
"It's Cool to Recycle" by St. Mary's Catholic Secondary School of Hamilton, Ontario is a computer animated and live action chase through the city streets to make sure that glass gets recycled. Way to run!
"A Message in the Bottle" another repeat winner by Linwood Public School from Linwood, Ontario won second place for grades 6 to 8. The judges got the message.
The creativity of the kids and the animation/live mix using computer generated characters was fabulous!. Maybe the contest will help bring out another Norman Jewison, or Stephen Spielberg. What theme should we have next?
The Return of the Recycled Knight? Glass Wars?
Copyright © 1996 Glass Works