The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) sets international standards. They “support innovation and provide solutions to global challenges.” Having an ISO certification is an important sign of good quality, safety, and reliability!
In this post, we’re talking about the ISO certification, and why it’s important for packaging. Read on to learn more!
What is the ISO?
Founded in 1947, the organization consists of national standards bodies. The ISO develops a wide range of standards for various industries. These standards make sure that products and services are reliable, safe, and good quality. From packaging, technology, food safety and more, the ISO has set about 20,000 standards! But how can you get certified by the ISO?
Next, let’s look at the main ways to get certified.
Types of ISO Certification
Despite setting all those standards, the ISO doesn’t offer certificates. In order to get ISO certified, a third party company provides the certificate. There are two main ways to do this: ISO accreditation, and ISO certification. But what’s the difference?
The ISO accreditation or accredited certification is provided when a company is ISO certified by a national accreditation body or something similar. Fun fact: each country has their own accreditation body! While these organizations are not government organizations, they do govern the standards for their respective countries. Accreditation bodies can only watch. They can’t help at any point of the assessment and provide a pass/fail grade.
On the other hand, in the ISO certification, the third party assessor can provide help. They can give guidance and make suggestions. Additionally, the certifying body is able to visit twice a year to help with any issues and audit performance! For most customers, the certification alone is enough. In some cases however, a customer may ask for the accredited certification instead.
Which ISO Certifications are Important for Packaging?
Different products and industries may use different ISO standards. There are some ISO packaging standards that are specific to an industry. For an updated list of ISO standards, you can check out the ISO website here!
In packaging, ISO 9001 is a common standard. ISO 9001 refers to a general quality management. This standard includes a strong customer focus and constant improvement. Using ISO 9001 is a great way to make sure that consistent, good-quality products are made. This standard can also help when considering the 3 P’s of packaging! Good quality packaging should protect your product, while also being beautiful.
Before we partner with a supplier, we do a thorough quality check. We do this to make sure that the facility is up to standard, so we can create the best packaging possible! This includes checks at multiple stages of the packaging process. You can read more about our quality control process here.
Overall, at LeKAC, customer service is king. This means looking for quality at every step of the process! Want to get started with upgrading your packaging? Contact us today to learn how we can help!
