Nord-Lock factory achieves new certification milestone

According to Emil Sjostrom, Property Manager for Nord-Lock, the effort (which he helped lead) aligns with the company's principles of utilising resources responsibly and consciously optimising to achieve more with less.

"It's about saving energy," Sjostrom says, referring to the ISO 50001 standards. "It reduces costs and lowers environmental impact. And it helps incorporate that type of thinking into everyday decision-making."

The Mattmar factory has had considerable success with other sustainability initiatives in recent years. Direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the site - known as Scope 1 GHG emissions - have been reduced by 99.9%. It's also switched to 100% renewable electricity. Attaining ISO 50001 certification, however, was a full site-wide effort that engaged practically every member of the workforce.

"All the departments get involved in some way," Sjostrom explains. "It's everyone from production, maintenance, the engineering team, the environmental and quality department, and of course, the facility management team."

Making everyone part of the journey

Meeting criteria set by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), which is independent and non-governmental, isn't new for the Nord-Lock factory. In 2003, it secured ISO 14001 certification for environmental management systems as one of the company's earliest sustainability efforts. The facility also currently holds ISO 9001 certification for quality management systems.

Work conforming to the requirements of ISO 50001 began in early 2025 and picked up in November when the project was ready to bring in outside consultants.

A team from a global third-party certification body conducted a multi-stage inspection and audit, featuring an initial evaluation of the facility with follow-ups until the final assessment for certification. "They were very helpful, asking questions and making sure we were on the right track," says Sjostrom.

An international engineering services company, meanwhile, provided training and professional development programs on aspects of energy management, like procedures and document frameworks. "Some of the teams did courses that were specifically geared towards this certification," Sjostrom explains.

The installation of energy meters throughout the facility for monitoring power use was a major necessity. It enabled Sjostrom and his team to find machines wasting power but also now allows everyone to see the energy costs of their activities and adjust their operational procedures to be more energy efficient.

"It's all about making employees aware of the decisions they make and how those decisions impact energy consumption," says Sjostrom. "We need to look at what we can do more efficiently and what routines we can change."

An effort that shows Nord-Lock's dedication

Gaining ISO 50001 certification is just one step in the Nord-Lock factory's longer sustainability journey, but an essential step. The overall transition to meet its standards is vital for reaching the company's targeted 40% reduction in energy consumption by 2030. It also helps send a clear signal that Nord-Lock is serious about being environmentally responsible.

"When we put time and effort into this kind of certification, it shows that we care and that we are committed to becoming better," says Sjostrom.

And the commitment endures past obtaining certification. As Sjostrom points out, the Mattmar factory will have to sustain ISO 50001 standards for annual surveillance audits.

"The certification will be followed up through annual surveillance audits to ensure that the energy management system continues to meet the requirements," he says. "This is only the beginning. You need to work with it all the time to hold on to it, and it needs to flow into everything in the facility."