A picture tells a thousand words if this sea of smiling faces is anything to go by. Participating GASAA firms in the inaugural group are: Corporate Document Management, Digitalpress, JA Wales Printers, Rawson Graphics, Secure Print, Shepson Printing and the NSW Department of Lands – Land Property.

With less than three months remaining the GASAA Environmental Management Course leading to ISO 14001 in Sydney is nearing completion. The six month certification course assists businesses to set up an Environmental Management System in compliance with ISO14001 international standards.

At the successful completion of the GASAA Course in February participants will receive the association’s highest “green rating” and certification. Then after some months of demonstrating continual improvement, and when all are ready an independent auditor from Standards Australia will be called in to conduct the final ISO certification.

Representatives from seven GASAA member firms are participating in the course facilitated by Paul Kohn, Principal of AKP Leura, a leading consulting firm in management and control systems. Participants have benefited from the group dynamic through sharing of best practices while teamwork has enormously boosted morale.

Charged at a fixed fee (with an option to pay by instalments) participants are secure in the knowledge they can budget for the investment rather than paying uncapped fees to an external consultant. Many cost savings have been realised as participants begin to implement environmental efficiencies within their own workplace. It would seem their staff are equally enthusiastic to play a part, as the positive feedback from participants suggests.

A second Sydney course is planned for early 2009, with a group also starting in Melbourne and Brisbane. Places are limited so call today to enquire how your business can get involved. Contact Gary Knespal on (02) 9386 1595 for more details.