A sustainable future

Our ambition is to be net zero in our own emissions – production, premises and energy use – by 2030. And Net Zero across our whole value chain by 2040.

To learn more about our Journey to Net Zero, please have a look at our brochure.

We know a thing or two about scientific measurement – so it’s critical to us that our ambition has been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative against a 1.5^oC warming scenario and that we are measuring our progress as accurately and meaningfully as possible:

As a member of the Spectris Group, we have:

• Aligned our ambition with the Science Based Targets initiative aligned to a 1.5^oC warming scenario
  
• Signed up to RE100, committing to using 100% renewable electricity by 2030
• Signed up to EV100, committing to a fully electric fleet by 2030

We are working to understand the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) position of our supply chain through EcoVadis. EcoVadis provides an evidence-based online platform, providing supply chain sustainability ratings and allowing us to assess the ESG performance of our global supply chain. This also includes a range of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) issues, grouped into four themes: Environment, Labor & Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement.

EcoAct audit

Validating our baseline in 2020 with an independent audit by EcoAct has now enabled us to measure our current greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and plan how we could make a measurable improvement.

After the audit, we targeted improvements in key areas where we can make the biggest impact on our Net Zero commitment. The audit identified that Renewable Energy Procurement was the greatest area to address, with a goal of a reduction of ~50% by 2030. Parallel to the reduction of consumption, investigating onsite renewable energy solutions was one of three pillars identified to support this goal. We successfully delivered an improvement to energy procurement at our Malvern site by installing 632 individual solar panels. Since 2019, this has saved the business an average of 22.5% of total electricity usage, aligning with our core aim to be Net Zero by 2040.

ISO 14001

Since 2007, we have had a formal Environmental Management System (EMS) to meet the requirements of ISO14001 and to reinforce the company’s commitment to the prevention of excessive resource utilization and the continual improvement in environmental performance. Malvern Panalytical meets the requirements of the WEEE legislation and RoHS Regulations and operates a zero waste to landfill initiative with Printwaste.

Everyone at Malvern Panalytical is involved. As scientists, engineers, and people who are committed to shaping a better world for future generations, we understand the huge effect that even the smallest changes can make. 

We have initiatives and programs running in every corner of our business. We’re making sure we’re embedding ‘sustainability first’ into everything - from how we work with our supply chain, to how we design our solutions and make our instruments, to how we use our office spaces, and how we travel to work.

No matter how small, every idea can make a difference!

While we know nano and microplastics are all around us, in our drinking water, food and air, and their presence is expected to increase over the next decades, little is known about their effects on human health.

Malvern Panalytical is part of the MOMENTUM project, a research consortium supported by ZonMw and Health-Holland, that in consultation with key stakeholders from academia, government, industry and citizen organizations aims to unravel the human health effects of nano– and microplastics (MNPs) and propose solutions to minimize their health impact. The Epsilon 4, a multi-functional benchtop XRF analyzer, is being used in the program to give fast and accurate results identifying the micro and nanoplastics in the samples.

It is the first time that research can base its results on micro and nanoplastic particles that mimic the ones found in our environment. In the past, research used off-the-shelf micro and nanoplastic particles bought from industry, which were similar but not exactly like those found in our environment.

This is the first step in MOMENTUM’s large-scale 3-year research program investigating the effects of plastics on our health. At the end of the study, the team will also present a road map to the Dutch government and the European Commission for better assessment and mitigation of the potential risks of MNPs, which will help shape policies that promote a healthier environment for us all. 

We are proud to be making a small but critical contribution by making the invisible visible we trust the project will have a positive impact on human health. To learn more, see our video below.

In the company, we have created Green Teams. Green Teams are responsible for coming up with ideas about what we can do – and doing it - at a local level to support the company on our Net Zero journey. These actions can be big or small, but we recognize that no matter how small the idea, every action counts towards our Net Zero goal. 

UK

An idea two of our scientists came up with was a ‘smiley face’ initiative aiming to reduce energy consumption in labs and save thousands in energy costs each month. Fume hoods operate by pulling air using motors on the roof and provide ventilation for the labs, but when left open, use unnecessary energy as the motors must work harder to balance the airflow. The local Green Team came up with the idea to create two stickers with half of a smiley face on each. When the fume hoods are closed, the stickers line up to create a whole happy face. With 211 fume hoods in labs across two sites in the UK, it is set to reduce energy consumption by 30-40%.

At our Malvern, UK location, we are partnering with ‘More Bees Please’, a Beehive Management Service, and have installed two beehives. The hives will improve biodiversity on site and reflect our commitment to being a sustainable eco-innovation business. Pollination is one of the most important biological processes on Earth, and Bees are one of the most important pollinators.

The Netherlands

In our offices in The Netherlands, the local Green Team updated the lighting in the newly renovated R&D department. They replaced the old energy-draining fluorescent lightbulbs with energy-efficient LED lighting and the main switch box was also renewed and connected to the building management system. They also added smart lighting sensors to several rooms to save even more energy.

New possibilities are opening up every day, and we’ll keep adapting and changing. We’ll keep this page updated each step of the way.