Kiwa Stories - Articles

Pests can spread throughout a facility very quickly if not managed effectively. They can cause unsanitary issues, leading to legal action or public health concerns. Taking preventative action against pest damage is pragmatic, diligent and much more cost effective in both time and money – we can help you implement this.

There are few sectors where as many audits take place as in the pharmaceutical sector. An audit often involves requesting inspection reports of assets and examining asset management processes in a quick and safe way. Janssen decided to implement Vinçotte Digi-Tags, a solution making structured data accessible through a scan, while protecting confidentiality at the same time.

Kiwa developed the Safe Social Climate label, designed to combat cross-border behaviour at sports clubs. In November 2022, Kiwa and the KNVB, the Royal Dutch Football Association, signed a three-year agreement to include the label in the licence requirements for professional football.

Information security is a major consideration for organisations around the world. Fortunately, the ISO/IEC 27000 family of standards is here to help to better secure corporate information assets. In 2022, ISO 27001 and its extension 27002 are subject to change. Marjolein Veenstra from Kiwa knows all about these standards and helps our customers on their journey towards continuous improvement of their information security.

Materials used in pipelines, machines and other industrial assets have traditionally been inspected visually or by means of X-ray imaging on film. Our colleagues at Kiwa Finland are among the world’s leading experts in using a new method: digital radiography, or digital X-ray imaging.

When you walk or drive down the street at night, your path is likely illuminated by streetlights. They are so ubiquitous it’s easy to take them for granted. In the UK, for example, there are about 6.5 million publicly owned lighting columns. By inspecting the quality of these columns, Kiwa helps to keep our roads safely lit.

As the world heads towards Net Zero, the promise of rail to lower energy use and emissions means more and more people will travel by train. Certification against the International Railway Industry Standard (IRIS) – a global system for the evaluation of rail sector companies ensures trains are running safely and efficiently.

Every day, millions of people play on artificial turf pitches infilled with plastic or rubber granules. Despite the major advantages of these pitches, there are also drawbacks in terms of environmental impact. Kiwa has tested the use of environmentally friendly or organic filling. What challenges do these alternatives to rubber or plastic infill present?

We all expect our taps, water meters and other water supply and plumbing products that come into contact with drinking water to perform reliably and safe. A wide range of mechanical and hygiene tests exist to ensure this. The best place to submit products to mechanical testing? Kiwa’s state-of-the-art Water Lab in Rijswijk, the Netherlands.

Working with companies across the value chain to support the energy transition is a strategic focus for Kiwa, and a key driver of growth globally. But as Luca Votta, Global Business Sector Leader Renewable Energy at Kiwa, says: "This is not about following market trends. We believe that our new world will be greener and more sustainable for our future and also for generations to come.

Globally, more than 6000 people die every day as a result of work-related accidents and diseases. The ISO 45001 standard helps companies around the world reduce the burden of work-related accidents and illnesses.

Biodynamic farming stands for consistently organically grown food produced in harmony with nature, following a holistic, ecological and ethical approach to agriculture. We take you to Finca Laguna Salada, one of the first biodynamic Demeter-certified banana plantations in the Dominican Republic.

PVUSA is one of the first solar plants built in North America, and currently serves as the home of grid-connected, research-grade outdoor testbed operated by PV Evolutions Labs (PVEL), a member of the Kiwa Group.

Schellevis, a Dutch manufacturer of concrete products used for various applications, including ornamental paving, is CSC Silver certified by Kiwa. CSC is a worldwide quality mark for concrete which proves that companies are part of a responsible concrete chain.

Organizations that work with chemicals must comply with many laws and regulations. Luleå University of Technology (LTU) in Sweden conducts research and teaches in a wide range of scientific fields. Kiwa helped them developing a standard for chemicals management as part of improving safety in LTU's laboratory environments.

Food fraud is an increasing challenge for the food industry and requirements for the prevention of food fraud are becoming more and more stringent. How can international food safety standards help to combat food fraud?