EN 15713 certified shredding is an important consideration when choosing a company to handle your confidential business documents. But what does this standard actually mean, and how can you be sure your information is being securely destroyed, whether you choose on-site or off-site shredding?

Businesses handle confidential information every day. From customer records and employee files to financial documents, contracts and sensitive business information, protecting that data is an important responsibility.

But have you ever stopped to consider what happens to those documents when you send them away for destruction?

Are they being handled securely? Is the company responsible for destroying them following recognised security procedures? And, importantly, does your shredding provider have independently assessed certification?

One of the key standards to understand when choosing a confidential shredding provider is EN 15713 – Secure Destruction of Confidential and Sensitive Material: Code of Practice.

Let’s take a closer look at what it means and why it matters.

What Is EN 15713?

EN 15713 is a European standard that sets out recommendations and requirements for the secure destruction of confidential and sensitive information.

It addresses the procedures, processes and performance monitoring needed to ensure that confidential material is managed and destroyed securely.

This includes much more than the actual shredding process. Security must be considered throughout the entire journey, from the collection and handling of confidential documents through to their final destruction.

Choosing a provider offering EN 15713 certified shredding gives businesses an important starting point when assessing the security of their confidential information.

The standard recognises both on-site and off-site destruction methods.

Does your shredding company have EN 15713 certification?

This is an important question to ask before handing over confidential business information.

You may come across companies that advertise that they work in accordance with EN 15713 or that they comply with its requirements.

However, there is an important distinction between a company stating that it follows a particular standard and a company being able to demonstrate independently assessed certification covering its secure destruction operations.

If a shredding company tells you it is certified, ask to see its certificate.

Check who issued it, what activities are covered, and whether it is current.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. You are entrusting that company with information that could be commercially sensitive, personal or legally protected.

EN 15713 Certified Shredding: On-Site or Off-Site?

With EN 15713 certified shredding, both on-site and off-site destruction are recognised, provided the appropriate security requirements are met.

A common concern businesses have when considering off-site shredding is that their documents will leave their premises before being destroyed.

It is understandable that customers may feel more comfortable watching their documents being shredded outside their own building.

However, security is not determined simply by where the shredding takes place. It is determined by the security controls and procedures in place throughout the destruction process.

EN 15713 recognises both methods of destruction.

With on-site shredding, a mobile shredding vehicle comes directly to your premises, allowing documents to be destroyed at your location.

With off-site shredding, confidential documents are collected and transported to a secure destruction facility, where they are processed and destroyed under controlled procedures.

When managed in accordance with the appropriate security requirements, off-site shredding can provide the same assurance of secure destruction as on-site shredding.

The important consideration is that your documents remain protected at every stage.

What are the risks of using a general waste company for confidential documents?

Not every waste collection or recycling company provides a specialist confidential shredding service.

While general waste and recycling companies play an important role in waste management, confidential documents require additional security considerations.

Simply collecting paper for recycling does not guarantee that the information printed on it has been securely destroyed.

Without appropriate secure collection, transportation, handling and destruction procedures, confidential information could be exposed to unnecessary risk.

Businesses should never assume that paper being collected for recycling automatically means it is being securely shredded.

Before choosing a provider, establish exactly how your confidential documents will be protected and destroyed.

Five questions to ask your confidential shredding provider

Before arranging a shredding service, consider asking:

1. Are you independently certified? Can you provide a current certificate and confirm its scope?
2. How are my documents collected and transported? Are appropriate security controls in place?
3. Where will my documents be destroyed? Is the destruction facility secure and appropriately controlled?
4. Can you provide confirmation of destruction? Will I receive the relevant documentation and data processing certification?
5. Can you explain your security procedures? What safeguards are in place between collection and final destruction?

A reputable confidential shredding provider should be happy to explain its processes and answer these questions.

Security in Shredding – Protecting Your Information at Every Stage

At Security in Shredding, we understand that handing over confidential business information requires trust.

Whether you require on-site shredding at your premises or an off-site collection service, security must remain the priority.

Our services are designed to help businesses protect confidential information while ensuring that documents are securely destroyed and responsibly recycled.

We provide confidential shredding solutions for businesses throughout Ireland, with services tailored to suit individual requirements.

Whether you have a few bags of archived paperwork, a regular scheduled shredding requirement or a complete office clear-out, we can help.

Remember: Your responsibility to protect confidential information doesn’t end when it leaves your office. Make sure you know who is handling it, how it is protected and how it is ultimately destroyed.

If you are looking for secure confidential shredding in Ireland, contact Security in Shredding to discuss your requirements.

Security in Shredding – Your Information. Our Responsibility.