Environmental & occupational health and safety management system

Environmental & occupational health & safety management system

BOFA's environmental management system achieved ISO 14001 certification on 22 October 2003. The certification was carried out by Det Norske Veritas.

BOFA has introduced the environmental and occupational health and safety management system with financial support from the Danish Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Competence Scheme and Bornholm Business Centre TIC. The system was introduced with consultancy assistance from COWI A/S and was implemented on 5 May 2003. The system's structure and processes are described and documented in detail in BOFA's Environmental Management Manual.

In 2018, BOFA converted to ISO 14001/2015. On 16 August of the same year, a conversion audit was held where the system was approved and we received the corresponding certificate (see below). From 13 to 15 November 2018, further audits were carried out focusing on the employees' work with the system. The result was positive and we passed without any deviations.

This certification means that we continue our work to improve our environmental management system in accordance with the ISO 14001/2015 standard. Our goal is to continuously optimise our efforts to ensure a sustainable and safe working environment.

The foreword to the Environmental Management Handbook is written by BOFA's director and reads as follows:

You have the latest version of BOFA's Environmental Management Handbook in front of you. In it, you can read how BOFA ensures safe and professional business operations that take into account both the known and the unknown in both the short and long term.

BOFA is one of the country's smallest waste companies. The geographical conditions have made it so. This means that we have to be able to do everything a much larger company can do with fewer resources. More than ever, we need to utilise the most up-to-date management tools available for
To ensure we can achieve our goals.

Bornholm sets high goals for the environment, sustainability, and resilience, primarily in the Bright Green Island strategy. In the field of waste, we are working towards the fulfilment of Vision 2032, the main goal of which is that all waste on Bornholm must be reused or recycled by 2032. This means saying goodbye to incineration and landfill and a strong focus on circular economy, sustainability and green transition.

ISO 14001 in its new revised form is an example of a management tool that is now in its new form sharper and more operational than ever and which will help BOFA make its contribution to Bornholm as a Bright Green Island.

Happy reading

The purpose of the environmental and occupational health and safety management system is:
The purpose of BOFA's environmental management system is to ensure that we as a company work holistically, purposefully and openly in favour of both the environment and the working environment.

BOFA's environmental policy is formulated as follows:
BOFA's environmental policy is based on two key elements: the waste hierarchy and the 2032 vision.

The waste hierarchy means that all waste must be prevented, collected, treated and disposed of with the greatest possible consideration for resource utilisation and the impact on the surrounding environment. The 2032 vision means that waste on Bornholm must be prevented, reused, recycled or recovered by 2032.

BOFA also wants the environmental policy to value the relevant targets (DM) from the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

BOFA's environmental policy is therefore as follows:

 DM 9.1 Develop good quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and cross-border infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on sensible and equal access for all.
BOFA will ensure that collection systems, both pick-up and drop-off schemes, continuously comply with this.

 DM 9.4 By 2030, the infrastructure and retrofit industry must be upgraded to make sustainable, with more efficient use of resources and increased use of clean and environmentally friendly technologies and industrial processes. All countries must act according to their respective capabilities.
To support this, BOFA will, among other things, introduce innovative tenders and utilise the best available technology in all relevant areas, including exploring technological opportunities in the operation and development of projects. BOFA will also reduce its own resource consumption without adversely affecting the working environment and safety conditions.

 DM 11.6 By 2030, reduce the negative environmental impact per capita, including Pay special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
BOFA wants, among other things expressed in the 2032 vision, to phase out combustible waste and instead ensure that all waste on Bornholm is prevented or sorted for reuse or recycling.

 DM 12.4 By 2020, achieve environmentally sound management of chemicals and waste throughout their life cycle, in accordance with the agreed international framework, and their emissions to air, water and soil must be significantly reduced to minimise their negative
impacts on human health and the environment.
BOFA wants to reduce the consumption of environmentally harmful products in its operations either by phasing out or by substitution. This will also contribute to a better working environment for BOFA's employees. At the same time, BOFA will ensure that environmentally hazardous substances received at BOFA's recycling centres are handled in the best method available at any given time.

 DM 12.5 By 2030, the amount of waste must be significantly reduced through prevention, reduction,
recycling and reuse.
BOFA will, according to the 2032 vision, work towards reducing future waste volumes by influencing citizens and businesses.

 DM 17.17 Encourage and promote effective public partnerships, public-private partnerships and civil society partnerships that build on lessons learnt and resource strategies from Partnerships.
BOFA has previously participated in projects where OPI (public-private innovation) was in focus. BOFA wants to continue to incorporate OPI experiences in future tenders and contracts in all relevant areas, including waste-related projects.

 DM 4.7/4.7.1 All students should have the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to promote sustainable development, including through education on sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles and the contribution of culture to sustainable development.
The degree of integration of global citizenship education and education for sustainable development at all levels in: (a) national education policies, (b) curricula, (c) teacher training and (d) student assessment.
BOFA offers all the island's childcare centres, public and private schools, secondary schools, etc. orientation in waste management corresponding to the respective age groups. BOFA also enters into agreements with partner schools on specific waste management initiatives and educational programmes.

Finally, BOFA's management will always be characterised by openness about environmental and working environment issues, both towards employees and the public.

Based on the above environmental policy, the following environmental goals have been created:

BOFA's short-term environmental goals for 2024-2025 are as follows:

To maintain and optimise the environmental management system according to ISO 14001 and communicate this to all employees. Consideration will be given to how to communicate to employees, not just inform them.
To work to maintain the low sickness absence that BOFA has had for several years. If sickness absence should increase, then to uncover the reason for this.
To focus on the content of contaminants in construction and demolition waste. BRK supervision supports this goal through increased focus on citizens' and craftsmen's use of BOM in connection with demolition and renovation.
To establish an activity centre based on the feasibility study. The project consists of phase 1, fundraising and phase 2, establishment.
To ensure that future waste management projects are in line with BOFA's and BRK's 2032 vision and that these initiatives are continuously promoted.
To map the possibilities for the future use of "Tornegårdsmarken" and the other areas on Almegårdsvej with a view to the future need for storage and space for sorting.
To create opportunities for actual, scalable knowledge by testing technologies and competences, using Bornholm as a platform for innovation and co-creation for partners (Zero Waste Bornholm).
To ensure the roll-out of Bornholm's future waste collection by implementing the project The Great Mobilisation 2.0, with associated sub-projects.
To secure future landfill capacity, possibly outside the island, when Bornholm becomes waste-free in 2032. This can be done by sorting out recyclable fractions, e.g. insulation materials, or agreements with landfills overseas.
To ensure the disposal of relevant fractions, both pre-treatment, transport and receiving facilities. Including contingency plans for transport, emergency storage, redundant facilities, etc.
Optimise efficiency with new, previously unused technology, e.g. full sensors on environments, automatic weighing in and out, etc.
To prepare a new waste plan for Bornholm up to 2032 and beyond. Including incorporating local circular initiatives such as repair shops etc.

BOFA's long-term environmental goals are as follows:

Ensure citizen and business co-ownership for future success in waste sorting.

BOFA's maintenance goals are as follows:

As a minimum, maintain the achieved reduction of incineration iron, slag and flue gas cleaning residue per tonne of waste burned at the waste-to-energy plant compared to the previous year's production.
Maintain a good working environment by reducing or relieving heavy lifting through appropriate measures, and similarly safeguard future work tasks against heavy or awkward lifting.
To reduce the emission of pollutants through smoke, lime and slag by continuously improving and optimising operations at the waste-to-energy plant.

Further information:

Further information about BOFA's environmental and occupational health and safety management system can be obtained by contacting BOFA's director, Jens Hjul-Nielsen.