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As businesses begin to feel the pressure that the novel coronavirus (also known as COVID-19) is currently placing on the world's economies, you may be wondering how to continue with life as normal during the outbreak.

With international markets shifting and the worrying possibility of widespread worker illness looming ahead, your corporate goals may well have been thrown into uncertainty. The President may be saying that it's 'business as usual', but it’s hard to carry on without wondering how the outbreak will affect your business over the coming weeks.

The good news is that our accreditation services are specifically designed for companies who want to offer digital ISO certification. As countless companies consider switching to remote working during the coronavirus outbreak, now seems like a great time to introduce business owners to the benefits of online accreditation. By reducing travel requirements, you’re not only protecting your employees during the virus outbreak, you’re also doing your bit to save the planet in the long run!

The Benefits of Online ISO Accreditation

Digital ISO certification offers businesses an efficient and eco-friendly way to achieve ISO 9001 and other certifications. In the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, we’ve found an unexpected benefit - every cloud has a silver lining, after all! As events unfold, the opportunity for change and innovation grows, and we’ve seized this opportunity to make remote and digital certification a possibility while providing a practical solution that will keep your business running in line with public health recommendations.

By removing the need for a physical auditor, we limit the amount of travel needed and therefore reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading. By handling everything digitally, you reduce the chances of the virus spreading to your work force, ensuring you have done everything you can to keep your business running while the outbreak continues. While we don’t guarantee your workforce won’t be affected by the virus, we can provide a step to reduce the risk, and save you time and effort too!

There are also environmental benefits to digital accreditation. By removing the need for physical auditors, we could take potentially hundreds of auditors off the road - which, in the future, could amount to a massive reduction in fuel usage and CO2 emissions. It’s estimated we’ve already taken 25 auditors off the road, keeping 185 metric tonnes of CO2 out of the Earth’s atmosphere. Imagine if everyone moved to online ISO accreditation!

So come join us in the future! If you’d like to find out more about digital ISO certification and how we can help you get certified online, please contact us today.

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Carbon emissions are a hot topic these days, with the likes of Greta Thunberg and Extinction Rebellion grabbing headlines seemingly every week.

However, beneath all the sensationalism lies a very clear message: pollution and climate change are very real issues that the world needs to address.

But why wait to take action? As Benjamin Franklin once said, don't put off till tomorrow what you can do today.

Tips for Reducing Your Company's Carbon Footprint

Reducing your carbon footprint doesn't necessarily mean you need to live off the grid in a self-sustainable cabin in the woods. It can be as easy as making a few small changes around the office.

Ready to get on the road to a greener workplace? Here are 3 great tips for businesses looking to shrink their carbon footprint into a baby step.

1. Go Digital

Perhaps the most obvious suggestion on this list, the first port of call for any business looking to reduce their carbon footprint should be to ditch paper and other physical mediums in favour of digital communications.

Giving up hard copies and focusing on digital documents can reduce waste dramatically, eliminating mounds of paper office-wide and saving space in the process.

For example, if you're seeking ISO 9001 certification for your business, you can reduce waste by working with a digital certification body instead of going the traditional route. Digital certification means fewer auditors on the road and less CO2 in our planet's atmosphere.

2. Recycle Waste

Whether your business is big, small or somewhere in between, your company can and will produce a variety of waste.

Introducing recycling points into the workplace is a logical step to help minimise any office waste that's created throughout the working day.

Meanwhile, even office appliances and hardware can be recycled when they come to the end of their working life, so think twice before you send that old photocopier or PC to the tip.

3. Video Conferencing

Thanks to modern technology, communication has come on light-years over the last two decades, meaning that travel is becoming increasingly unnecessary.

Where possible, it may be worth scheduling a video conference call instead of a face-to-face meeting, particularly if the latter requires lengthy travel.

Not only will it save considerable amount of time and fuel, it will also save your business money in the process. If that isn't incentive enough to go green, we don't know what is!

Find a USAS-accredited digital certification body >>

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The introduction of remote auditing, driven through devices such as smartphones and tablets, has been a game-changer for the auditing world. Devices that facilitate e-signatures can help to collect and securely process data such as images, videos, GPS coordinates and even voice messages as electronic evidence of an audit, making the life of a typical on-site auditor much easier.

Here are just some of the benefits of remote auditing:

• Save time through faster, automatic and value-added audits.
  
  
• Simplify audits, enhancing the reliability of evidence-recording with mobile devices.
  
  
• Increase corporate governance, business performance and operational efficiency through a robust and cost-effective method of audits and risk mitigation.
  
  
• Increase business productivity by removing the need for manual spreadsheets and printed reports.

The main benefits of remote auditing are centred around cost flexibility. Auditors will incur fewer costs through every remote audit they conduct, such as travel expenses and billable hours. This is particularly advantageous in competitive environments and industries, where remote auditing provides the opportunity to share these savings with the company while maintaining profitability goals. On-site audits still hold value, albeit they will be conducted less regularly and will be much better organised, facilitating quicker collaborative resolutions.

USAS is at the forefront of the remote auditing revolution! Visit our homepage to learn more about what we do.

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If you’re considering ISO certification for your business, your company is in safe hands with a USAS-accredited certification company.

Here at USAS, we pride ourselves on our commitment to continuous improvement and the pursuit of excellence.

As a result, you can rest assured that any company that has attained USAS accreditation is a worthy guide for your own digital ISO certification journey.

USAS-Accredited Certfication

USAS is a world leader in independent third-party accreditation and a founding member of the IAFDC (International Accreditation For Digital Certification).

If there’s one thing we know better than anything else, it’s digital certification. In fact, our accreditation services have been specifically designed for certification companies who are looking to offer just that.

USAS Affiliates

Here at USAS, we provide support and guidance for organisations offering certification services.

In order to achieve this, we set well-defined standards to uphold the technical competence and integrity of our accredited organisations, ensuring that all USAS-accredited organisations offering certification are fit to fly the USAS flag.

While we do have USAS affiliates across the globe, we have only provided accreditation to a small number of certification companies in each country, in order to maintain high standards across the board.

With such stringent policies and criteria in place, if you see the USAS logo, you know you're dealing with a company that knows its stuff.

Find a USAS-Accredited Certification Company >>

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As time goes by, consumers are becoming increasingly educated about the environment and the impact that human activity has on the Earth.

In 2014, a global survey showed that 55% of consumers are willing to pay higher prices for goods and services from businesses with environmentally-friendly business practices. By adopting eco-friendly practices, you will be enhancing your bottom line as well as the environment.

However, all of your efforts to go ‘green’ must be genuine if you want to advertise them. Consumers have the ability to penalise and punish organisations deemed to be misleading them with false claims of sustainability (known as ‘greenwashing’).

So, what can your business do to become more environmentally-friendly? Here are three simple steps to get the ball rolling:

1. Go digital with your documents – Going digital means less paper. Paper makes up around 35% of the planet’s waste stream, so by using as little paper as possible, you can help to reduce this waste.
   
   
2. Pull the plug – When the office is closed and everyone has gone home, switch off everything you possibly can before you leave. This includes computers, monitors, printers and other gadgets.
   
   
3. Work with other green companies – With such a huge emphasis on eco-friendly practices, working with like-minded businesses is a great way to promote your own green efforts. Building a ‘green network’ to make your whole supply chain as environmentally-friendly as possible can go a long way.

READ MORE: What are we doing to help the environment?

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Achieving ISO certification can be a long and arduous process that’s not only time-consuming but habitually inefficient.

Naturally, any one of those terms will likely be met with widespread disapproval from any self-respecting business owner. After all, who wants to willingly subject their business to laborious inefficiency?

Luckily, there is a new way to go about ISO certification and, much like the rest of the world these days, it’s digital, it’s online and it’s undoubtedly the future.

Better still, the future is already here!

Company Benefits of Digital ISO Certification

Digital ISO certification provides businesses with an efficient and economical way of attaining ISO accreditation online. Gone are the wearisome days and costly delays associated with the physical accreditation process, instead replaced with unobtrusive integration and online efficiency.

From a financial standpoint, digital ISO certification usually provides a cheaper option right away. Meanwhile, the demand on human resources is also far less taxing, freeing up man-hours and staff alike, allowing you to put those resources to better use elsewhere.

The online process also allows businesses to check whether or not companies are ISO certified, providing full transparency for all.

Environmental Benefits of Digital ISO Certification

Taking your ISO certification journey online naturally reduces the amount of paperwork involved which, in turn, positively benefits the environment. That much is fairly obvious.

However, what you may not have considered is that the online nature of digital ISO certification also removes the need for a physical auditor to attend your business premises in person, thus eliminating unnecessary travel needs.

While this may not seem like much, imagine if numerous companies took their ISO certification online and you multiplied the effect tenfold or more.

That travel would then translate into a notable difference in terms of fuel and CO2 emissions, thus making digital ISO certification ecologically as well as financially beneficial.

For more information on digital ISO certification or how to attain ISO accreditation online, why not drop us a line? Get in touch today by clicking the button below and we will aim to get back to you ASAP.

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There are a variety of benefits to achieving ISO accreditation, from boosting operational efficiency to enhancing your company's reputation.

However, despite these perks, many business owners who consider seeking ISO certification are put off by the associated drawbacks involved in the accreditation process: namely the time, money and hassle that comes with it.

Luckily, there is an easier way and it comes in the form of digital certification.

When done remotely using an USAS-accredited body, the whole ISO certification process goes from pulling teeth to sitting pretty in the time it takes to sign up.

Don’t believe us? Read on to find out more…

Benefits of Remote ISO Certification

One of the main turn-offs for businesses considering ISO certification is the fact that the process takes up a lot of time. Worse still, it also involves numerous staff members as well as site visits and additional paperwork.

While traditional ISO certification may be a laborious task, the digital route can be surprisingly straightforward.

With online accreditation from a USAS-accredited body, the cons of ISO certification are instantly vaporised into digital dust.

Online communication and fast-track results are two key selling points. Digital accreditation can be done online and completed at a time that suits you.

There’s no need to down tools and focus on 100% on your ISO certification; you can simply schedule the tasks around your existing timetable and prioritise accordingly.

In addition to the practical benefits, online ISO certification is also cheaper than conducting the process in person, requiring far fewer physical resources as well.

Meanwhile, the reduction in travel and paperwork also helps to reduce your carbon footprint, providing a responsible solution that benefits all.

Find a Digital Certification Body >>

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At USAS, our pioneering accreditation services have been specifically formulated to cater for companies looking to offer digital certification.

However, as Coco Chanel once said, if you want to be original, prepare to be copied…

Setting a Trend

While the world of accreditation certification may not be fashionable, our online approach to accreditation is certainly a trendy topic within the industry.

Like any game-changing innovation, our revolutionary digital approach to accreditation has spurred on others to throw their hat into the ring.

As a result, online accreditation has been picked up by a number of our industry contemporaries, spawning countless copycat programmes and carbon copy services.

Even our ground-breaking use of QR codes for digital verification of accreditation certificates is now being adopted as a means of improving services industry-wide.

Nevertheless, as the old saying goes, imitation is indeed the sincerest form of flattery and further proof that the minds at work here at USAS are consistently one step ahead of the curve.

Blazing a Trail

While the digital accreditation pool may be getting more and more crowded, it's important to remember two things: an original is always worth more than a copy and, while any accreditor can be next in line, there can be only one first.

As a founding member of the IAFDC (International Accreditation for Digital Certification), we take great pride in being a trendsetter in the industry and continue to lead the way in online accreditation services.

We have long been at the forefront of accreditation innovation and continue to push the boundaries of digital technology to provide the best online service imaginable. Best of all, not only has this benefitted the accreditation industry, it's also had a positive impact on the environment.

Going Green

In addition to providing the public with a simpler, more accessible route to accreditation, our continued efforts to build upon our pioneering digital approach has had a significant impact on the environment as well.

By eliminating the need for auditors to travel to and from sites during the accreditation process, our online approach actively contributes to energy saving and carbon footprint reduction.

In fact, by taking 25 auditors off the road, we estimate that USAS has reduced the carbon footprint of certification bodies by 185 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions per annum.

Meanwhile, the fact that our digital accreditation method has been picked up by other companies further extends the reach of this greener approach, taking more auditors off the road and thus reducing even more CO2 emissions as a result.

For more information on how to getting your certification company accredited, why not drop us an email today? Drop us an email at enquiries@usas-info.com or use our online form by clicking the button below.

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ISO 14001 is the internationally-recognised standard for environmental management systems.

A company can implement an environmental management system (EMS) in order to minimise the impact of their operations on the world around us.

Once implemented, an EMS may be audited and awarded ISO 14001 certification if it complies with ISO standards.

Visit ISO.org for more information on ISO 14001 >

Does my company need an environmental management system?

Adhering to an ISO 14001-certified EMS is a great way to limit the environmental impact of your organisation.

REQUIREMENTS: In order to achieve ISO 14001 certification, you will need to demonstrate that every part of your organisation is adhering to your EMS and working to achieve continual improvement as regards your environmental impact.

If you're committed to doing as little damage as possible to the world around us, you may wish to consider pursuing digital ISO 14001 certification. Getting certified online reduces carbon emissions because there's no need for auditors to travel to your location.

Find a USAS-accredited digital certification body >

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In September 2019, Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg sat before members of Congress and urged them to "take real action" on climate change.

"I don't want you to listen to me," said the 16-year-old. "I want you to listen to the scientists. I want you to unite behind the science and I want you to take real action."

Thunberg has become the face of a global youth movement that's seen young people all over the world walking out of their classrooms to attend climate protests. The impact of this campaign has been phenomenal - just take a look at the SchoolStrike4Climate hashtag on Twitter!

What is USAS doing to help?

We at USAS believe that everyone needs to take action in order to overcome the existential threat of climate change.

Our digital certification services are helping to reduce carbon emissions by taking auditors - and their cars - off the road for good.

We have already calculated that we have taken 25 auditors off the road, keeping 185 metric tonnes of CO2e out of Earth's atmosphere in the process!

Learn more about USAS and digital certification >

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