ECUADOR – Aglomerados Cotopaxi has reached a new milestone in its sustainability efforts by obtaining the ISO 50001 certification for energy management, granted by SGS Ecuador.

This achievement makes the company the first in Ecuador’s forestry and wood sector to meet this international standard, according to the Ecuadorian Association of the Forestry and Wood Industry (AIMA).

The certification recognizes the implementation of an efficient energy management system aligned with the country’s Organic Law of Energy Efficiency. The process began in November 2023 with technical support from J3M, an Ecuadorian consultancy specializing in energy diagnostics and international standards. One of the key outcomes was identifying major energy-consuming processes to optimize resource use and reduce unnecessary consumption.

“This certification reflects a profound shift in how we analyze information and manage resources,” said Cristina Morales, leader of the energy efficiency project. As a result, the company reduced its annual energy consumption by 3.9%, from a projected 731 terajoules (TJ) to an actual 702 TJ, while also improving biomass utilization in operations.

With this achievement, Aglomerados Cotopaxi strengthens its leadership as the first carbon-negative company in Ecuador, adding ISO 50001 to its existing ISO 9001 (quality) and ISO 45001 (health and safety) certifications, and reaffirming its commitment to sustainability across its entire value chain.