May 13, 2014

R2 Implementation in 2.5 weeks

Sometimes we are asked the question, “How long does it take to implement the R2 standards?”

This standard can be quite difficult to prepare for, requiring a significant amount of implementation in comparison to other similar management system/legal compliance standards.

Learn more about R2 implementation cost

Part of the reason for the difficulty is that compliance with R2 also requires compliance with ISO 14001, an environmental management system standard, and OHSAS 18001, an Occupational Health & Safety management system standard. Other alternatives are to implement RIOS (Recycling Industry Operating Standard) alongside the R2 standard.

We asked a recent client of ours how many days it took them to implement the R2 standard. The gratifying reply: “a total of 2.5 weeks”.

Not many people consider the cost of implementation when searching for an R2 consultant. We guess that many recyclers may not even realize that the choice of a consultant can have quite a significant impact on the time spent on implementation.

The truth is, depending on your consultant, the cost of implementation can be significantly higher than just the cost of the consultant alone yet many confine their consultant selection criteria to the quoted price of the consultant.

A recycler will spend less time on implementation depending on the level of customization and work that the consultant puts into the recycler’s management system.

Often, the lack of customization not only increases the amount of implementation it also introduces unfamiliar practices that require additional training and records, and can affect the recyclers’ original goals and intentions for their organization.

So next time you are considering a consultant, consider some of the soft costs, such as implementation time. This will help you to make a better decision and help to avoid unnecessary and additional costs that may not be so obvious in the decision-making process.