A voluntary commitment: ISO 14001

What is ISO 14001 Certification?

CNES/CSG is fully aware of the need to carry on its Space activities while respecting the environment, and has therefore applied for and obtained ISO 14001 certification. The system for environmental management which has been set up shows that CNES/CSG takes its environmental responsibilities seriously. Certification is the outcome of two years of investment by all participants in this company project. ISO 14001 Certification was awarded in mid-December 2004 by the certifying organisation BVQI and renewed by AFNOR Certification.

A voluntary commitment in favour of the environment

Acquiring ISO 14001 certification is in no way obligatory. CNES/CSG has chosen it voluntarily. Its principal purpose is to minimise the impact of the Centre’s activities on the environment.

ISO 14001 certification concerns all of the CNES/CSG facilities, in particular sites involving a particular risk for the environment such as: payload preparation activities (at the EPCU), transport activities (garage), power supply/air conditioning activities, the waste material transit station, the quarries, the Pariacabo docks, developing photographs, activities during transit between zones and lastly the booster engine test stand and the burn-off pool area. It also involves monitoring pollution fallback from Ariane 5 launches.

Preserving our living environment

Specific objectives for certification were :

to raise awareness among the personnel of CNES-CSG and manufacturers about protecting the environment
to demonstrate that our activities conform to legal requirements
to limit the most significant impacts on the environment
to reduce our consumption of natural resources
to become more competitive
to communicate to the satisfaction of all parties concerned
to preserve our immediate living environment and the environment in French Guiana

The detailed situation report on the sites and activities that are potentially dangerous for the environment enabled us to take new measures for monitoring, reducing or eliminating the impact on the environment.

Here are a few examples of these measures :

holding tanks under the electricity generators,
processing systems at certain fuel storage points
separate bins for discarded batteries and printing cartridges
including environmental awareness in the safety training of personnel.

Everyday reflexes

CNES/CSG continuesly works on making the environment a higher priority, as a permanent feature of company policy in both our current and future activities, with particular reference to waste management in the establishment.

A considerable effort has been made in French Guiana concerning waste management and making the public aware of the dangers of pollution, but much work remains to be done.

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Informing the public

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Hinds under surveillance

Chapters:

Informing the public

A voluntary commitment: ISO 14001

Hinds under surveillance

Studies in aquatic environments

A wide variety of wild fauna at CSG

Meeting with a specialist

Soyuz in French Guiana

ISO 14001 and manufacturers