Saturday, 20 April 2024
To date, Akran has implemented the framework and the supporting audit programs necessary for ISO 14001 certification, the global standard for environmental management systems. Akran currently monitors the environmental impact of its activities, products and services to continuously improve its environmental performance and reducing energy, resource consumption and waste production. ISO 14001 provides a systematic approach to setting and achieving environmental objectives and targets already in place.
All of Akran's food and beverage containers meet FDA, US Federal agencies, Health Canada, and provincial agencies stringent food-grade product regulations. Temporary tattoos and other related products that fall under the Canadian Food and Drugs Act and FDA regulations are in full compliance with import notification (when applicable), ingredients disclosure and the product labelling requirements. As part of our quality control procedures, Akran ensures its products meet all federal and provincial import and health requirements.
We believe in responsible business practices. We are a full supplier of environmentally preferred products (EPPS) that have a smaller environmental footprint than competing products.
Our primary environmental objectives are to increase the energy, water and resource efficiency of products and prevent pollution in the administration, manufacturing and secondary processing (e.g., imprinting). As part of our environmental initiative, Akran extends its responsibility beyond the point-of-purchase to the life of the product.
Akran Marketing is a strong advocate of boosting our national economy. We try our best to source and promote Canadian products, not just because it helps to employ Canadians, but it is better for our economy. The higher quality and longer-lifespan of these products, as well as the reduced impact of less transportation demands on the environment (reduced consumption of carbon-based fuels and production of associated pollutants) all work together to ensure we can provide the best value for money.
Akran is dedicated to protecting the environment through increased efficiency and recycling, with the aim of contributing to sustainable development. In working towards this goal, Akran has focused on pollution prevention, resource conservation and environmental design to increase product value at all process levels. The company has undertaking numerous activities from a medium to long-term perspective, and has formulated and implemented a Green Management action plan, which stipulates key attainable targets.
Akran recognizes enhancing quality as a crucial management task, and we incorporate quality and reliability improvement considerations into product development, planning, engineering, production, sales and service activities. In 2003 we formulated corporate quality standards that outline minimum requirements for all of Akran products in an effort to improve our product quality management system. We have also implemented a Customer Service Strategy headed by Monica Channa, VP of Operations, as the ultimate authority for customer satisfaction and quality-related issues.
Since our company was created, we have dedicated ourselves to satisfying customers, protecting the environment and meeting the needs of society. It’s what we stand for. We integrate socially responsible practices into the very fabric of our operations, from the suppliers we use to the final lifecycle stage of the products we sell.
Akran has dedicated resources to match the standards set by organizations such as the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) and Social Accountability International (SAI). The guidelines of these organizations help us better understand and approach the broad scope of issues that encompass our business.
Nature's Economic Value
Economist Pavan Sukhdev argues that in order to protect nature from damage caused by industrial growth, natural resources must be measured in terms of economic value. This viewpoint, he explains, can expose companies that destroy more wealth than they create.
Save our Species
Thousands of animals and plants around the world face extinction with species disappearing at a rate up to 1,000 times higher than normal. To help address this, the Global Environment Facility, the World Bank Group and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) have started the Save Our Species (SOS) program with the goal of building a major global species conservation fund by 2015. The Akran Foundation is committed to protecting the environment and biodiversity is one important part of that. SOS – Save our Species, Save ourselves - is an important message to everyone!
Urban Runoff
Contaminated storm water washed off of parking lots, roads and highways, called urban runoff is a major source of water pollution. 80 different municipalities in Ontario, including Ottawa, have combined sewer systems allowing sewage to enter the river during heavy rainfall.
Imagine Canada Standards
The Akran Foundation is an Imagine Canada's Ethical Code charity.