New Certification Body for PAS 141

Valpak (UK), the Scheme Administrator for PAS 141:2011 Certification Scheme for the re-use of used and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment, is delighted to welcome the accreditation of a second Certification Body to the scheme: Really Green Credentials. The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) has rigorously audited Really Green Credentials over the past two months and has now approved them to carry out independent audits for re-use organisations wishing to be certified to PAS 141.

Oakdene Hollins’ Centre for Remanufacturing and Reuse was the first to be accredited, and has been successfully operating since the launch of the Certification Scheme in February 2013. Introducing Really Green Credentials to the scheme will now provide greater competition in the marketplace, providing re-use organisations with a choice of Certification Body. 

Lord Deben, Valpak Chairman, commented:

“As Chairman of Valpak I’m delighted to welcome Really Green Credentials to the PAS 141 Scheme. With the scheme launching earlier this year, having Really Green Credentials on board as a second Certification Body marks an exciting new phase in the development of PAS 141 and will help meet the demand from re-use organisations wishing to become PAS 141 certified.”

PAS 141 was developed by key industry experts working with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) to improve the overall standards for the treatment of discarded electrical and electronic equipment in the UK.  This addressed a demand from consumers for reassurance that used apparatus is electrically safe to use and functionally fit for purpose. 

Re-use organisations certified to PAS 141 can:

• Demonstrate a high quality treatment process
• Promote quality of re-use items
• Increase customer confidence
• Help reduce illegal exports

By becoming PAS 141 certified, organisations can also use the scheme’s official REEE mark.  The use of this mark on refurbished items helps consumers identify those that have been prepared by organisations compliant with PAS 141, giving them assurance the products have been prepared by treatment facilities operating to a recognised industry standard.

Following certification of the first two organisations, Nilwaste and Wastecare, which became certified to PAS 141 following audits by Oakdene Hollins, the accreditation of Really Green Credentials means a third company has now been certified to the PAS: RD Trading Limited (trading as RDC).