Unicorn Group Case Study

17 November 2023

Meet Unicorn Group in Northern Ireland. Six manufacturing businesses, two ISO standards and one achievement of PAS 2060.

For the past 30+ years, Unicorn Group has established and expanded their operations in the lively city of Lisburn, Northern Ireland.

Six businesses and nearly 100 employees make up Unicorn Group, each contributing to the manufacturer’s overarching success:

Unicorn Hygienics – hygiene products for the washroom services sector.
Unicorn Flooring, FlexiTile and Ecoloc – PVC interlocking floor tiles.
Unicorn Containers – metal medical bins for local health trusts.
PFC Rainwater – aluminium and cast-iron rainwater products (e.g. guttering).

Keep reading to explore Unicorn Group's relationship with NQA, and their journey to PAS 2060.

Two ISO standards & a zest for sustainability

Unicorn Group is no stranger to NQA, having achieved ISO 9001 (Quality Management) and ISO 14001 (Environmental Management) certification with us back in 2019.

Since then, Unicorn Group has continually evolved and innovated new ways to improve their processes and procedures. Efforts include becoming more sustainable beyond ISO 14001 standard requirements and achieving PAS 2060 (Carbon Neutrality) verification.

PAS 2060 is a leading global standard, verifying clients against their carbon neutrality claims.

PAS 2060: A boost for the planet and industry competitiveness

“PAS 2060 seemed like a natural first step on our journey to net zero. We supply our products to some of the world's largest end-users; with increasing competition in some of our markets, we see PAS 2060 as an opportunity to be one step ahead of our competitors. The PAS 2060 verification takes us into preferred supplier status with many of our larger customers.”

Embarking on the journey to PAS 2060 verification

Given the positive existing relationship and cited excellent service received, Unicorn Group entrusted NQA with their PAS 2060 (Carbon Neutrality) verification.

Part 1: Getting in touch with NQA

At the top of the to-do list was speaking to NQA’s Sustainability Assurance Manager.
Amber Dixon is our sustainability expert and is always eager to guide clients through the PAS 2060 process.

Part 2: Partnering with a consultant

Once plans were in place to achieve PAS 2060, Unicorn Group commissioned an external consultant to:

Calculate the approximate carbon footprint across all Unicorn Group businesses;
Identify where Unicorn Group can change processes and significantly reduce emissions.

Part 3: Completing the finishing touches

Given their experience preparing for ISO 9001 (Quality Management) and ISO 14001 (Environmental Management) audits, Unicorn Group knew what to expect – and the value of preparing in advance.

Part 4: Taking part in the PAS 2060 assessment

NQA Sustainability Assessor Clare Braham was the lead verifier, blending her knowledge and experience to provide a robust assessment.

Unicorn Group praised Claire for offering insight into the processes and making recommendations to stay PAS 2060-compliant today, tomorrow and in years to come.

The business achieved PAS 2060, with an opinion statement confirming their carbon claims!

The positive effect of being carbon-neutral

Unicorn Group’s PAS 2060 verification is an achievement for stakeholders at every level, both internally and externally.

The verification has been shared as positive news online and offline across the business. Unicorn Group has seen a renewed commitment to their sustainability goals, with team members more focused on the environment than ever.

Also, every Unicorn Group customer has welcomed their PAS 2060 accomplishment. In most supply chains, Unicorn Group is the first to have achieved this milestone – a story used to promote and encourage the wider industry.

Unicorn Group’s goal is to further reduce their carbon emissions and implement net-zero targets.

Final thoughts from NQA

NQA congratulates Unicorn Group – not just for having their carbon-neutral claims backed up through PAS 2060, but also for leading the way towards sustainability in manufacturing.

When striving for carbon neutrality, look no further than NQA. We are always eager to help businesses reach their potential, all while contributing to a healthier planet.

Want to make your carbon-neutral claims credible? Learn more about PAS 2060 verification.

Discover how NQA can support your sustainability goals. Chat to our expert sales team today.

Download a PDF version of Unicorn Group's case study here.