Syngnature Discovery, a contract research organisation has received a bronze rating from EcoVadis in recognition of the company’s commitment to sustainable practices in the life sciences sector.
EcoVadis, a global sustainability ratings platform, evaluates companies across various industries on environmental, social and ethical performance criteria.
Implementing sustainability
Sygnature Discovery has implemented a range of sustainable initiatives over a three-year period including reducing carbon emissions in laboratory practices, recycling palladium waste, reducing the number of ultra-low temperature freezers, transitioning to paperless invoicing and recycling IT equipment.
Additionally, a dedicated environmental committee meets monthly to discuss and implement sustainable practices and is represented by non-scientific and scientific employee groups including the Green Chemistry and BioScience groups.
The industry’s freezer challenge
Sygnature has also demonstrated its commitment to environmental stewardship through its participation in this year’s International Laboratory Freezer Challenge, organised by My Green Lab, in collaboration with the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories (I2SL).
The six-month freezer challenge prompts labs to implement efficient cold storage practices, submitting score sheets for the chance to win awards.
Sygnature Discovery CEO Dr Simon Hirst commented: “As an industry player, we have a responsibility to lead by example and set the standard for sustainable excellence. We recognise the importance of minimising our environmental footprint, promoting ethical conduct, and fostering social responsibility.”
Assessment criteria
During the assessment process, EcoVadis takes four key themes into consideration, including how a company impacts the environment, labour and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement. The organisation uses its findings to award medals based on performance.
By achieving the EcoVadis Bronze award, Sygnature Discovery joins a group of companies recognised for their commitment to sustainability in life sciences.
EcoVadis sustainability ratings are grounded in international sustainability standards, including the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact, International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards, and the ISO 26000 standard.