Algol Chemicals first in its branch to receive ESAD II approval

Algol Chemicals is the first Finnish chemicals distributor to be approved
according to the SQAS Distributor/ESAD II (European Single Assessment Document)
system. The process has been adopted by the European Chemical Industry Council
(Cefic) and the European Association of Chemical Distributors (FECC) to assess
quality, safety and environmental factors connected with the operations of
chemicals distributors. The approval allows Algol Chemicals to use the systems
official logo for its chemicals distribution operations at its locations in
Espoo, Turku and Tampere, Finland.

According to Director Tuula Sokka, who is responsible for quality and
environmental issues at Algol Chemicals, the ESAD assessment process has
recently been upgraded and its content diversified. It has also been connected
to the Safety and Quality Assessment System (SQAS), which previously applied
only to the logistics industry. The goal has been to develop an assessment
method that is as commensurable as possible while at the same time improving
co-operation between manufacturers and distributors and promoting continuous
improvement in operations. The process is voluntary for companies in chemicals
distribution.

The assessment is carried out according to standardised chain of questions by
an independent auditor who is specially trained and authorised for the job.
Algol Chemicals Maaret Karlsson, a quality and environmental expert who
participated in the process, stresses the practical aspects of the assessment
method: facilities, operations and processes must be shown to be suitable, or
an approved development plan must be presented for areas where there is room
for improvement. The approval is valid for three years.

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