SUPPORTING SUSTAINABILITY 2025
www.alphalabs.co.uk/sustainability 2009 Alpha Laboratories’ Sustainability Journey 2021 2018 2020 Recycled filler and boxes started being used in warehouse LaboraTree customer tree planting scheme launched. Over 3200 trees planted to date*. *Data correct as of March 2025 New advanced Trisomet® trapezoidal roofing system and skylights installed Building re-cladding First EV chargers installed Alpha Garden planted
www.alphalabs.co.uk/sustainability 2022 2024 2023 Switched to paper tape for sealing packaging NHS Evergreen Supplier Sustainability Assessment Beach Clean Additional EV chargers installed (Unit 39) Solar panels installed Shakespeare Infant School kitchen donation E-Transit Van First Carbon Reduction Plan – Detailed methodology for carbon footprint baseline Further EV chargers installed (Unit 40) Alpha Woods project at Warsash All LEDs throughout office and warehouse Shakespeare Infant Schoolgrounds maintenance
www.alphalabs.co.uk/sustainability Our Sustainability Focus People: We aim to support science education at all levels of engagement, increasing interest to secure a sustainable workforce for the future industry. Contributing to uplifting all areas of the community to mitigate social inequalities. Working with customers and suppliers to build a resilient supply chain with a focus on ethical behaviour and engagement in sustainability. Alpha Laboratories is focused on building a better world for future generations. Our internal strategy is centred around our three sustainability pillars: People, Planet, Culture. CULTURE PEOPLE PLANET Planet: Taking ownership of our environmental impact and exploring sustainable solutions and opportunities to reduce this impact. Ensuring all members of the workforce understand the significance of sustainable procurement and looking to reduce our waste by choosing recycled or refurbished options. Culture: Our people are our purpose and biggest asset. We all operate under a shared set of values which reflect the company’s commitment to innovation, empathy, growth, trust and responsibility. CULTURE PLANET PEOPLE
www.alphalabs.co.uk/sustainability Office Practices Our adoption of ISO 14001, integrated with our ISO 9001 Environment and Quality management system accreditation, shows our commitment to accountability year on year. Annual audits ensure our operations are consistently limiting our negative impacts on the environment. Throughout our offices and operations Alpha works hard to incorporate processes to minimise waste and energy. Facility changes such as recycling opportunities in additional waste streams (coffee pods, crisp packets, ink cartridges), and fostering the use of sustainable alternatives to everyday items (toilet paper and hand towels made from sugarcane byproducts) help underpin cultural office expectations from staff. Building adaptations; warehouse skylights, LED installation across the site, solar panel installation and EV charging points, highlight the continuous efforts to reduce our energy impacts. We are now exploring ways to encourage habitual changes in staff such as turning off lighting and computer screens when not in use. Throughout our marketing we explore opportunities to offer sustainable alternatives. For our printed communications we choose to use recycled paper and seeded paper over standard print, as well as staying away from single use marketing materials completely. Our warehouse operations ensure we use minimal amounts of plastics, opting for recycled boxes, paper filler and paper tape. Any bubble wrap used for extra protection of products is all made form 30% recycled plastics. We work with customers to consolidate orders where possible, using a range of couriers to ensure deliveries are completed in the most sustainable manner. In addition to this our E-transit Van is available for local deliveries.
www.alphalabs.co.uk/sustainability At Alpha we are actively working to reduce our emissions, through various in-house projects and engaging with our supply chain to further reduce our footprint. Carbon reduction activities include periodically researching new energy efficient opportunities, annually reviewing our company car policy, and the continuous maintenance and improvements to waste streams, which all ensure we work on reducing our impact on the environment. To view our carbon reduction projects please see our Carbon Reduction Plan and initiatives here: www.alphalabs.co.uk/carbon-reduction Our Net Zero Target Scope 1 & 2 Alpha Laboratories Ltd is committed to achieving operational Net Zero Carbon emissions by 2040 or sooner. Scope 3 Alpha is committed to reaching Net Zero Carbon for its broader organisational emissions by 2045 or sooner.
www.alphalabs.co.uk/sustainability Our Laboratree Scheme has been a consistent favourite with our customers since its inception in 2009. At the end of 2024 we had planted over 3000 trees on behalf of our customers. How does it work? Register online and we will send you a LaboraTree collector’s card with your unique membership number. Apply the special tree tokens found on the outside of Fastrak® or ZAP™ tip packs to your collector’s card. When the card is full, return it Freepost to us and we’ll plant a tree on your behalf. We will record any ZAP tokens towards your additional gift and you will also receive your personalised e-certificate. Find out more at: www.alphalabs.co.uk/laboratree. Recycling Scheme As a distributor for many laboratory plastics, Alpha understands the impact this can have on the environment. To help our customers reduce this impact, Alpha offers all UK customers purchasing laboratory consumables to recycle them via our free-of-charge recycling scheme. These plastics will be taken and used in manufacturing for plant pots, drainage pipes, traffic cones and more. For more information and to register for this service please visit: www.alphalabs.co.uk/recycling, phone us FREE on 0800 38 77 32 or email us at recycle@alphalabs.co.uk. For further waste guidance please see our Safe and Responsible Waste Disposal guidance page: www.alphalabs.co.uk/safe-disposal
www.alphalabs.co.uk/sustainability Fastrak® and FastZAP™ for the Future Fastrak and FastZAP pipette tip refill systems boast sustainable manufacturing and improved designs that ensure a reduced environmental impact. Compared to other products on the market, Fastrak and FastZAP are lighter, smaller, and overall use less packaging. The packaging has been designed to use the absolute minimal need of materials, helping to reduce weight and fuel needed for transportation. Tip refill systems use minimal packaging 9Production utilises 61% renewable energy 9Fastrak base made of bioplastic (plant derived) resin 995% renewable packaging material 9Uses vegetable based printing inks Find out more at: www.alphalabs.co.uk/tip-refills Packaging materials are fully recyclable Sustainable Products Did you know...? Fastrak pipette tip refills begin their sustainable journey right from production. Manufactured in a facility powered by 61% renewable energy, 30% of this energy is generated on-site through the factory’s own solar panels. Recyclable Bioplastic Stack Base Tip Platform Transfer Top Carton Images courtesy of Labcon Minimal Packaging Fastrak – extrathin tip wafer A typical tip tray from other brands
www.alphalabs.co.uk/sustainability A wildlife-conscious recombinant alternative to the conventional LAL assay PYROSTAR™ Neo+ from FUJIFILM Wako is an endotoxin detection reagent that has been developed by recombinant technology to provide a synthetic LAL assay alternative, designed with wildlife conservation in mind. Clear Ethical and Environmental Advantages Neo+ offers a non-animal derived solution for bacterial endotoxin testing (BET) in research, pharmaceutical, and medical equipment manufacturing. By replacing conventional LAL reagents sourced from Atlantic Horseshoe Crabs, PYROSTAR™ Neo+ helps reduce the impact on wildlife, while facilitating the same high sensitivity as PYROSTAR™ ES-F. Concerns Animal welfare; captured, stored and transported out of water, restrained, bled. Increased global demand for medicines and medical equipment, thus a higher demand for LAL agent. Decreasing populations have lasting impacts on the food chain, potential complete ecosystem collapse. The Future Synthetic Alternatives: Replacing traditional LAL with recombinant reagents that are non-animal derived and no longer reliant on the crab. A step forward, the next generation includes the recombinant Cascade Reagent (rCR) which uses all three factors of the LAL cascade to detect endotoxins. Atlantic Horseshoe Crab (Limulus polyphemus) IUCN CONSERVATION STATUS: Vulnerable LAL reagents use crab blood for bacterial endotoxin testing in research, quality control and manufacturing of pharmaceuticals, medical devices and lab consumables used in the healthcare field. Biomedical Applications Over ONE MILLION individuals bled in 2022 Up to 30% mortality rate in facilities Elevated stress out of water triggers hypoxia and increases mortality. Increased Reproducibility More consistent results as there are less lot-to-lot variations due to use of recombinant technology as opposed to animal derived materials. Without Compromising Performance 3-Factor system which mimics the same cascade as traditional LAL. Same high sensitivity as the PYROSTAR™ ES-F. 3Rs of Animal Testing Compliance 3Rs principles of replacement, reduction, and refinement of animal testing. Replacing traditional animal derived reagents and reduces the impact on wildlife. For more information visit: www.alphalabs.co.uk/neo+
www.alphalabs.co.uk/sustainability In early December 2022, Alpha Laboratories Ltd worked with Hampshire Rangers on their Warsash Legacy Project to regenerate a SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) and SPA (Special Protection Area) site. The project saw 75 oak trees, 1 representing each member of staff, planted alongside numerous hedgerows, with further planting planned over the following 2 years. Around 53% of staff members got involved with the planting alongside the rangers and volunteers. Oak trees are known to have long lives lasting hundreds of years, allowing them to sequester tons of Carbon, whilst simultaneously providing habitats that support and protect wildlife and biodiversity. Alpha Woods 2023 Alpha Woods Update
www.alphalabs.co.uk/sustainability Our smaller projects range from volunteering to project donations. In 2024 Alpha took part in its first corporate beach clean. Following guidance from the Marine Conservation Society (MSC), Alpha staff undertook a litter survey and litter pick at a local beach near Lee-on-the-Solent. This half day helped shed light on the range of materials that are considered litter, and the sizes of litter that can be found. Staff found a range of objects, from children’s toys to fishing line. Actively engaging our employees on our environmental impact is a key part of ingraining a culture of accountability. In 2023, Alpha provided a donation for the construction of a large polytunnel at Franchises Wood – an RSPB managed site in the New Forest. This polytunnel will help with the growing of young sapling trees during the first year of their lives. Once old enough the trees propagated from the site itself will be planted amongst its parents within the forest. The site of the polytunnel is adjacent to Cameron’s Cottage, an outdoor residential conservation learning centre for young adults (part of the Camerons Bespolka Trust), helping connect, educate, and engage young people with nature conservation and science. Other Environmental Projects
Find out more at www.alphalabs.co.uk/sustainability Tel: +44 (0)23 8048 3000 Email: info@alphalabs.co.uk Web: www.alphalabs.co.uk Alpha Laboratories Ltd 40 Parham Drive Hampshire SO50 4NU JB-00N-305A 06-25
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