A recurring concern for manufacturers is the cost of appointing consultants to gain accreditations.

Accreditations involve:

1. Consultancy and certification fees

2. Internal time and resource

3. Investment in monitoring and systems

The key distinction is whether those costs:

1. Sit purely on the overhead line

2. Or unlock savings and revenue opportunities

Energy related accreditations often:

1. Identify waste that was previously invisible

2. Justify investment in efficiency or generation

3. Deliver ongoing cost reduction

Manufacturers that integrate energy projects into their accreditation strategy consistently outperform those that separate the two.

🚨 The Risk of Doing Nothing

Choosing not to engage with the accreditation landscape is itself a decision – and often a risky one.

Common consequences include:

1. Gradual exclusion from tenders

2. Increased scrutiny from customers

3. Difficulty evidencing environmental claims

4. Higher long term compliance costs

In contrast, proactive engagement:

1. Allows timing to be controlled

2. Enables accreditations to be phased logically

3. Aligns investment with operational priorities

This is particularly important for energy investments that have long asset lives.

♟️ From Fragmentation to Strategy

The most successful manufacturers approach accreditations by:

1. Mapping all current and future requirements

2. Identifying overlaps and dependencies

3. Prioritising standards that deliver operational value

4. Building a shared evidence base

This transforms accreditations from:

A: “A series of audits we have to survive”

Into:

B: “A management framework that improves how we operate”

The chapters in our new book ‘Profit meet Planet’ show exactly how this works in practice and:

1. Examine each major accreditation in detail

2. Explain what it covers and why it exists

3. Show the value it brings when implemented well

4. Highlight how energy and carbon reduction strengthen outcomes

Once you’ve read the book, you will be able to:

1. Choose accreditations strategically

2. Integrate them efficiently

3. Use them to reduce cost, win work and increase profit

Contact us for a complementary copy or, go to your Amazon account and type ‘Profit meets Planet’ in the search – or click here – and buy one.