Climate Change Data

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Social
• Environmental
• Governance

Environmental Achievements

• Completed significant refurbishment of facilities ensuring improved water utilisation and energy efficiency.
• Encouraged staff to reduce wastage, optimize use of resources, and switch off electrical equipment when not in use.
• Reduced business travel through greater adoption of technology for virtual meetings.

Social Achievements

• Maintained regular communication and dialogue with stakeholders.
• Applied fair employment practices and complied with all employment legislation.
• Invested in healthy and safe workplaces and implemented various employee policies (Equal Opportunities, Anti-harassment, Health and Safety, GDPR, Flexible Working, Parental Leave, etc.).
• Supported staff working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Maintained open communication with staff regarding company strategy and performance.

Governance Achievements

• Adopted the QCA Corporate Governance Code.
• Undertook an annual review of the corporate governance framework.
• Established an Audit Committee, a Remuneration Committee, and a Nominations Committee.
• Implemented a comprehensive suite of policies covering conduct and ethics (anti-bribery, modern slavery, safeguarding).

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Adverse impact of foreign exchange movements.
• Increased charge in respect of share options issued in previous years.
• Flatter downstream market for vitamin D testing and pandemic effects.
• Regulatory approvals for domestic Chinese customers have considerable lead times.
• Development of antibody technology companies in China represents a longer-term challenge.
• Relative global geopolitical stability will be important for continued trade.
• COVID-19 pandemic adversely affected routine diagnostic pathways and patient willingness to seek healthcare.
• Supply chain issues caused by various factors (reagents, plastics, filters).
• Some lost opportunities for SMA technology due to competition from rabbit monoclonal and synthetic antibody technologies.

Mitigation Strategies

• Careful stock planning and sourcing alternatives to manage supply chain issues.
• Continued investment in research projects.
• Maintaining a cash balance of approximately £5 million to facilitate operational and strategic agility.
• Exploring production systems (such as E.coli) to improve production techniques and commercial feasibility.
• Working with a UK industrial site to conduct a field trial of a pyrene exposure device and app.

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement

• Careful stock planning and sourcing alternatives.

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Sustainable Products & Innovation

• Pyrene exposure device and app

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Environmental
• Social
• Governance

Environmental Achievements

• Converted one process to use bioreactors, reducing plastic flask usage.
• Implemented genetic engineering techniques resulting in a four-fold increase in the yield of one antibody production.
• Using SMAs made in vitro to replace mass immunization of sheep for T4 (thyroxine) antibody, reducing animal usage.
• Significant refurbishment of facilities improving water usage and energy efficiency.

Social Achievements

• Maintained regular communication and dialogue with stakeholders.
• Applied fair employment practices and complied with all legislation and requirements regarding employment.
• Invested in healthy and safe workplaces.
• Supported new parents in their desire to return to work, resulting in four part-time employees.

Governance Achievements

• Followed the guidelines of the Quoted Companies Alliance.
• Continued efforts to increase Board diversity.
• Operates a Quality Management System based on the principles of ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 13485:2016.

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Supply chain issues relating to plastics and chemical reagents.
• Turmoil in the energy market, predicting power outages.
• Limited candidate availability compromising progress in Board diversity.

Mitigation Strategies

• Expertly managed supply chain issues by procurement team.
• Planned to use diesel generator and reserve fuel supplies to minimize power outage disruption.
• Continued efforts to increase Board diversity.

Supply Chain Management

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: Quoted Companies Alliance Corporate Governance Code

Certifications: ISO 9001:2015, ISO 13485:2016

Sustainable Products & Innovation

• Pyrene lateral flow system for industrial pollution biomonitoring
• Assays for benzene and isocyanates