Quality and Sustainability

Iberol’s mission is to be a reference of excellence in all the sectors in which it operates, to achieve and maintain the most demanding standards of Quality, in all its processes and areas of activity, creating value for its shareholders, satisfying the needs of its customers and providing its employees with the development of skills, knowledge, creativity and innovation.

Iberol’s Commitment

  • Ensuring the total satisfaction of its customers and stakeholders, identifying their needs and expectations, as well as creating value and improving its competitive position

  • Develop people, identifying the necessary skills to perform their duties and providing conditions for an environment of motivation and high performance

  • Manage processes with integrated and quality information, supported by information systems, so that decisions are taken on factual and objective bases

  • Follow the highest quality standards, applying the reference standards in its production processes, in the quality and sustainability of its products, in food safety and Safety at Work

  • Promote environmental protection, integrated pollution prevention and control and efficient use of energy, optimizing the use of natural and energy resources, continuously improving its performance

  • Strictly comply with current legislation, applicable regulations and compliance obligations

  • Evolve in the application of management techniques that encourage the innovation of products and services, which allow us to continuously respond to market needs

  • Establish measurable improvement objectives in all its processes through strategies and annual activity and business plans, defining the actions necessary to achieve them.

  • Systematically evaluate its Quality, Environment, Safety and Sustainability Management Systems, through audits identifying areas for improvement and corrective programs, supported by the participation of the entire organization

Continuous Improvement

In view of the continuous improvement of processes and the mobilization of all employees in terms of quality principles, the company decided to implement a methodology that would help in this regard. Thus, in the Quality Improvement Plan, the opportunity arose to integrate the Kaizen-Lean philosophy into the company’s daily activities and strategic projects.

The implementation of this methodology at IBEROL began at the end of 2014, involving more than 90% of its employees in the change (Kai) for the better (Zen).

This methodology is practiced globally, being indifferent to language and educational barriers, and is effective in both manufacturing and service industries, that is, it is independent of the size of the organizations. In addition, it helps to optimize processes with lean practices and waste elimination. Since the beginning of its implementation, IBEROL has already had reductions in its transformation costs by more than 17% and a reduction in fixed costs between 23-25%.

Standards and Certifications

ISCC

ISCC is one of the leading certification systems for sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions. In July 2011, the European Commission recognized the ISCC as one of the first certification schemes that demonstrates full alignment with the requirements of the European Renewable Energy Directive (RED).

ISCC certification can be applied to comply with legal requirements in the bioenergy markets as well as to demonstrate the sustainability and traceability of raw materials in the food, animal feed and chemical industries.

Iberol has been certified by the ISCC since June 2012, in almost its entire value chain, namely as the first point of collection for agricultural raw materials, in the production and refining of vegetable oils and in the manufacture of biodiesel, and also in most products with which works, namely rapeseed, sunflower, soya, palm, used cooking oil and animal fat of categories 1, 2 and 3.

ISO 9001

The new version of the ISO 9001 standard, from 2015, is the most used management systems standard worldwide, constituting an international reference for the Certification of Quality Management Systems.

The adoption of a Quality Management System is, according to ISO 9001, a strategic decision of the Organization, that is, taken at the highest decision level to serve a specific purpose and obtain results.

ISO 9001 addresses the fundamental purpose of an Organization’s existence by focusing on the ability to satisfy customers’ needs and expectations, increase customer satisfaction and improve the Organization’s overall performance. It contributes to the economic pillar of sustainability, which in turn allows the Organization to have the capacity and means for other sustainability initiatives.

ISO 9001 adopts a process approach, which incorporates the PDCA cycle of continuous improvement and integrates risk-based thinking.

Iberol obtained ISO 9001 certification in 2006.

ISO 14001

ISO 14001 is the international standard for an environmental quality management system (EMS). A standard that helps in the identification, prioritization and management of environmental risks and which forms part of a company’s usual business practices. The standard is largely based on the quality standard but takes into account environmental impacts.

Benefits of ISO 14001

  • Demonstration of Commitment – publicly shows your company’s environmental commitment and helps ensure that your performance is managed and improved.
  • Reduce costs – helps you make better use of your resources, which can reduce costs.
  • Managing your company’s reputation – will reduce the costs or damage to your reputation associated with cleanups or litigation.
  • Becoming a preferred supplier – enables your company to work with companies that prioritize environmentally friendly organizations.

Iberol obtained ISO 14001 certification in 2006.

HACCP

HACCP is an internationally recognized acronym for Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point.

HA = Hazard Analysis CCP = Critical Control Points HAZARD = Hazard

The Hazard Analysis and Critical Points Control (HACCP) system is based on a preventive methodology, with the objective of being able to avoid potential risks that can cause harm to consumers, through the elimination or reduction of hazards, in order to guarantee that unsafe food is not made available to the consumer.

The HACCP system is based on the application of technical and scientific principles in the production and handling of foodstuffs from “farm to fork”.

Currently, the Portuguese population is increasingly concerned with the benefits of a balanced and healthy diet, demanding food with and of quality. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure the quality of food products to gain consumer confidence.

HACCP was developed as a simple method to ensure the production of safe food for the consumer, but it was only relatively few years ago that Portuguese companies began to believe in the potential of this system.

Essentially, this system involves an in-depth study of raw materials, processing, handling, storage and shipping conditions, enabling the identification of sensitive areas that lead to an unacceptable danger situation.

The HACCP system is the most effective method of maximizing product safety. (Mortimor and Wallace, 1994)