Kiwa Stories - Articles

With the Safety Culture Ladder (SCL) organizations can gradually increase their employees' safety awareness and reduce the number of accidents in the workplace. This is still necessary, even in civil engineering, where Dutch infrastructure specialist Van Vulpen is active. The company has been certified at SCL level 4 for several years. Jaco van der Ree, a safety expert at Van Vulpen, explains more about it.

Gratanglaks, a Norwegian salmon farming company, obtained ASC Salmon Standard certification with Kiwa's help, ensuring sustainable and environmentally responsible salmon farming. With over 2,000 ASC-certified farms globally, ASC is the leading aquaculture certification scheme, guaranteeing eco-friendly and socially responsible products. Learn more about Gratanglaks and the ASC certification.

World Water Day 2023 focuses on accelerating progress towards universal access to safe water and sanitation. Kiwa, an independent third party, is developing innovative solutions to improve water efficiency, safeguard supply, ensure water quality and support waste treatment to work towards SDG 6. Take personal action and partner with organizations committed to sustainable development to solve the water and sanitation crisis.

Hydroelectric plants produce 17 percent of the world’s energy. These systems rely on the environment – our waterways and surrounding areas – to function. ISO 14001 environmental management certification can support continuous improvement and show a commitment to the environment.

Information security is a major consideration for organisations around the world. Fortunately, the ISO/IEC 27000 family of standards is here to help to better secure corporate information assets. In 2022, ISO 27001 and its extension 27002 are subject to change. Marjolein Veenstra from Kiwa knows all about these standards and helps our customers on their journey towards continuous improvement of their information security.

Cultural heritage is an important but often overlooked field when it comes to inspection and certification. Kiwa’s Building and Civil Engineering division helps clients maintain monuments by offering restoration services, including certification covering a range of materials.

As of January 1, 2023, the new version of GLOBALG.A.P. Chain of Custody Standard (CoC) v 6.1, will come into force. The GLOBALG.A.P. Advisory Board opted to strengthen the GLOBALG.A.P. system because food fraud and integrity issues are presenting a growing challenge for the food sector.

Huge numbers of medical devices manufacturers will have to comply to the Medical Devices Regulation (MDR) by May 2024 to be able to market their products in Europe. Kiwa helps clients throughout Europe, and beyond, with this challenge.

Materials used in pipelines, machines and other industrial assets have traditionally been inspected visually or by means of X-ray imaging on film. Our colleagues at Kiwa Finland are among the world’s leading experts in using a new method: digital radiography, or digital X-ray imaging.

When you walk or drive down the street at night, your path is likely illuminated by streetlights. They are so ubiquitous it’s easy to take them for granted. In the UK, for example, there are about 6.5 million publicly owned lighting columns. By inspecting the quality of these columns, Kiwa helps to keep our roads safely lit.

As the world heads towards Net Zero, the promise of rail to lower energy use and emissions means more and more people will travel by train. Certification against the International Railway Industry Standard (IRIS) – a global system for the evaluation of rail sector companies ensures trains are running safely and efficiently.

Every day, millions of people play on artificial turf pitches infilled with plastic or rubber granules. Despite the major advantages of these pitches, there are also drawbacks in terms of environmental impact. Kiwa has tested the use of environmentally friendly or organic filling. What challenges do these alternatives to rubber or plastic infill present?

We all expect our taps, water meters and other water supply and plumbing products that come into contact with drinking water to perform reliably and safe. A wide range of mechanical and hygiene tests exist to ensure this. The best place to submit products to mechanical testing? Kiwa’s state-of-the-art Water Lab in Rijswijk, the Netherlands.

Working with companies across the value chain to support the energy transition is a strategic focus for Kiwa, and a key driver of growth globally. But as Luca Votta, Global Business Sector Leader Renewable Energy at Kiwa, says: "This is not about following market trends. We believe that our new world will be greener and more sustainable for our future and also for generations to come.

Globally, more than 6000 people die every day as a result of work-related accidents and diseases. The ISO 45001 standard helps companies around the world reduce the burden of work-related accidents and illnesses.

Biodynamic farming stands for consistently organically grown food produced in harmony with nature, following a holistic, ecological and ethical approach to agriculture. We take you to Finca Laguna Salada, one of the first biodynamic Demeter-certified banana plantations in the Dominican Republic.