Leaseweb Achieves ISO 14001:2015 Certification, Reinforcing its Commitment to Environmental Sustainability

Leaseweb, a cloud services and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) provider, announced it has achieved ISO 14001:2015 certification for its operations in the Netherlands.This internationally recognized standard for environmental management systems (EMS) ensures that Leaseweb is taking proactive measures to minimize its environmental footprint, is compliant with relevant laws, and is committed to environmental responsibility and sustainable business practices.

ISO 14001:2015 certification was awarded following a rigorous evaluation by EY CertifyPoint, an accredited, independent, and impartial certification institute, confirming that Leaseweb has successfully implemented an effective environmental management system. This includes policies, procedures, and controls designed to manage environmental risks, reduce waste, and promote resource efficiency across the organization.

Working to deliver a comprehensive environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategy, Leaseweb has reached several significant sustainability milestones, including green facility management and procurement, investment in a fully electric vehicle fleet, and sourcing 100% renewable energy for its operations. The company’s ‘Green Team’, made up of representatives from across the business, has been instrumental in driving its sustainability strategy, successfully integrating environmental awareness into company culture and empowering staff to adopt more sustainable practices in their day-to-day activities.

“Achieving this important certification is a key part of our long-term sustainability strategy, and we are extremely proud of the commitment shown by the entire Leaseweb team,” said Svenja de Vos, co-CEO, Leaseweb. “It also aligns very closely with our customers, who recognize the crucial importance of integrating sustainable technologies and processes across the modern digital ecosystem.” 

Notes
ISO 14001 certification overview 

• ISO 14001 is the international standard for EMS
• A company is first certified after successfully passing a certification audit by a third-party registrar
• Certification confirms the company meets the standard at that moment

Surveillance audits current stage

• After certification, the company remains certified for 3 years, but the registrar checks compliance periodically – these are surveillance audits
• First surveillance audit usually occurs around 12 months after certification
• Purpose: ensure the EMS is still functioning, improvements are maintained, and the company is continuing to comply with ISO 14001

Key Points 

• Passing the first surveillance audit does not grant certification; the company is already certified
• Failing it could put the certification at risk
• Typically, surveillance audits are less extensive than the initial certification audit
• After the first surveillance audit, there is usually a second surveillance audit around year 2, and then a recertification audit in year 3

In short: The company is already certified after the initial audit. The first surveillance audit is the 1-year check to ensure ongoing compliance, not the initial certification.