COGEMA Cadarache has received ISO 14001 certification for its environmental management system. It is the first of the COGEMA Group industrial sites, most of which are engaged in ISO 14001 programs, to have obtained the rating. The environmental management system is a tool for controlling and reducing the environmental impact of an activity, product or service. ISO 14001 certification is official recognition awarded by an independent organization that a system complies with international standards, in particular concerning:
- continual improvement of environmental performance,
- pollution prevention measures,
- regulatory compliance,
- processing of all external requests.
COGEMA Cadarache began its Total Quality program several years ago and obtained ISO 9002 certification and the KTA 1401 rating, which is specific to the German nuclear industry (COGEMA Cadarache's main client), in 1996.
COGEMA Cadarache has also won two quality awards, the Prix Régional Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur regional price), in 1998, and the Prix Français de la Qualité (quality French price), in 1999. Jürgen KRELLMANN, director of COGEMA Cadarache, views this environmental certification as rewarding the plant personnel's efforts and the competencies developed since its creation. It also shows that the environment is an important concern in the nuclear industry in general and MOX fuel fabrication in particular.