Environmental Policy

Labcold Statement of Environmental Policy

1. Purpose

We recognise that our environmental impact extends beyond our own operations. As a manufacturer of medical & scientific refrigeration, a substantial proportion of our total carbon footprint arises from the use of our products by customers over their operational lifetime. This is reflected in our carbon-reduction approach and our supply chain environmental expectations, which are addressed in our Sustainable Procurement Policy.

We are working towards ISO 14001 certification and are developing carbon reduction targets aligned with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) methodology. This policy reflects where we are now and provides the framework within which our environmental management will develop.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all activities carried out by Labcold, including:

Manufacturing and assembly operations
Office and administrative functions
Logistics, transport, and delivery activities
Product installation and end-of-life recovery

It applies to all employees, directors, contractors, and agency workers. Our supply chain environmental expectations are set out separately in our Sustainable Procurement Policy and are communicated to suppliers through that document and our procurement process.

3. Our Environmental Commitments

We commit to the following principles across all areas of our business:

Commitment Area	Our Commitment
Legal Compliance	Meet or exceed all applicable environmental legislation and regulatory requirements. Maintain awareness of changes to environmental law and update our practices accordingly.
Continuous Improvement	Set objectives and targets, review performance against them, and improve our environmental management over time. This is the foundation of our ISO 14001 development programme.
Carbon Reduction	Reduce our greenhouse gas emissions across Scope 1, 2, and 3 in line with our carbon reduction targets, which are being developed in accordance with SBTi methodology.
Waste Minimisation	Reduce waste at source, maximise reuse and recycling, and ensure responsible disposal of all waste that cannot be reused or recycled.
Pollution Prevention	Prevent pollution of land, water, and air from our operations. Handle and dispose of hazardous materials, refrigerants, and solvents in accordance with applicable regulations.
Resource Efficiency	Use energy, water, and materials efficiently. Evaluate operational processes regularly to identify efficiency improvements.
Product Stewardship	Consider the environmental impact of our products through their full lifecycle, from design and material selection through to customer use and end-of-life recovery.
Supply Chain	Seek to work with suppliers who demonstrate a responsible attitude to environmental issues. Our supplier environmental expectations are set out in our Sustainable Procurement Policy.
Communication	Communicate our environmental commitments and performance to employees, customers, and other relevant stakeholders.

4. Carbon Reduction and Climate

4.1 Our Carbon Position

We have conducted a greenhouse gas inventory and understand the structure of our carbon footprint. Our Scope 3 emissions account for the vast majority of our total footprint. Category 11 (use of sold products) accounts for approximately 58.5% of our total Scope 3 inventory, reflecting the energy consumed by our products over their operational lifetime in customer premises. This means that the energy efficiency of our products is our single most significant lever for carbon reduction, alongside the decarbonisation of our own operations and supply chain.

4.2 Our Targets

We are developing carbon reduction targets aligned with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) methodology. Our target horizons are:

Target Type	Horizon	Status
Near-Term	2034	In development. Aligned to SBTi methodology.
Long-Term	2045	In development. Aligned to SBTi methodology.

4.3 Scope 3 and Product Use

Given that Category 11 represents the largest share of our Scope 3 footprint, we are committed to:

Designing and developing products that meet or exceed applicable energy efficiency standards
Providing customers with clear information on the energy consumption and environmental performance of our products
Considering refrigerant selection as part of product development, with preference for lower global warming potential (GWP) options where technically feasible
Supporting customers in responsible end-of-life disposal and recovery of our products under WEEE regulations

5. Operational Environmental Practices

5.1 Refrigerants and Hazardous Materials

The handling of refrigerant gases requires particular care given their potential environmental impact if released. We commit to:

Ensuring that refrigerant gases, volatile solvents, and potentially toxic or harmful liquid materials are never released to the environment
Collecting all such materials and passing them to a suitably qualified and registered organisation for disposal or recovery in an approved manner
Maintaining compliance with applicable F-gas regulations in the UK and monitoring developments in EU F-gas requirements as they affect our products and supply chain
Keeping records of refrigerant handling, recovery, and disposal as required.

5.2 Waste Management

We apply the waste hierarchy to all waste arising from our operations, prioritising reduction at source above all other options:

Reduce
Minimise waste arising from our operations in the first instance. Evaluate processes regularly to identify opportunities for reduction.

Reuse
Where waste cannot be eliminated, seek to reuse materials within our operations before considering disposal.

Recycle
Assess all waste for recycling. Where technical solutions exist, recycle rather than dispose. All waste is assessed before disposal to confirm whether recycling is feasible.

Responsible Disposal
Where waste cannot be reduced, reused, or recycled, ensure disposal is carried out in an environmentally responsible manner through appropriately licensed contractors.

5.3 Packaging

We are committed to minimising unnecessary packaging and managing packaging waste responsibly:

All units are delivered unpacked and sited at customer premises by our team, with packaging materials removed and returned for recycling
We assess packaging materials for recyclability and prioritise recyclable or recycled content materials
We aim to reduce the volume and weight of packaging used where this can be achieved without compromising product protection

5.4 Energy and Emissions

We commit to managing energy use and associated emissions across our operations:

Monitor our energy consumption and identify opportunities for reduction
Minimise transport-related emissions through the considered selection and management of our vehicle fleet
Encourage the use of public transport, cycling, and other lower-emission travel alternatives for business travel where appropriate
Use video and telephone conferencing as an alternative to travel where meetings can be conducted effectively without in-person attendance
Apply paperless office principles across our administrative functions to reduce paper and printing related resource use
Provide hand drying facilities that minimise paper towel consumption

5.5 End-of-Life Product Recovery

Our products are subject to the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations. We are committed to:

Fulfilling our producer responsibilities under the WEEE Regulations 2013 (as amended)
Supporting customers in the responsible disposal and recovery of end-of-life equipment
Ensuring that end-of-life products are recovered and disposed of in accordance with applicable WEEE requirements
Considering product design choices that facilitate disassembly, component recovery, and recyclability at the end of life

6. Responsibilities

Role	Responsibility
Directors	Ultimate accountability for this policy and our environmental performance. Setting environmental objectives. Reviewing progress and approving this policy annually. Communicating environmental priorities to management and staff.
Managers	Ensuring staff in their teams understand and comply with this policy. Embedding environmental practices into day-to-day operations. Discussing environmental performance at management meetings. Reporting progress to the Board. Ensuring completion of environmental training.
All Employees	Observing and actively engaging with this policy. Applying the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle hierarchy in daily work. Promoting responsible environmental practices internally and with suppliers and customers. Raising environmental concerns or improvement ideas with their manager.
Procurement	Applying environmental criteria in supplier selection and management in line with the Sustainable Procurement Policy. Seeking suppliers who demonstrate a responsible approach to environmental issues.

7. Training and Awareness

All employees will receive environmental awareness training covering:

The key environmental impacts of our operations and products
This policy and their role in delivering it
The Reduce, Reuse, Recycle hierarchy and how it applies to their work
Correct handling and disposal procedures for waste and hazardous materials

Training completion will be recorded in our training matrix and reviewed by managers. Environmental awareness will be included in the induction for all new employees. Refresher communications will be issued by email on a regular basis.

As we develop our ISO 14001 programme, more structured environmental competence requirements will be established for relevant roles.

8. Legal Compliance and Monitoring

We commit to identifying and complying with all environmental legislation and regulatory requirements applicable to our operations. This includes but is not limited to:

UK Environment Act 2021 and associated regulations
WEEE Regulations 2013 (as amended) and producer responsibility obligations
F-Gas Regulations applicable to refrigerant handling and product compliance
Hazardous waste regulations governing the disposal of refrigerants, solvents, and other controlled materials
Packaging and packaging waste regulations

We will maintain a register of applicable environmental legislation and review it at least annually to identify changes that affect our obligations. Compliance with legal requirements is a baseline, not a target.

9. Objectives and Measurement

Specific quantitative targets will be established as part of our ISO 14001 development programme and updated in this policy accordingly.

10. Communication

This policy is available to all employees and will be communicated through our internal management and staff communications. It is available to customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders on request.

We will report on our environmental performance and progress against our objectives as part of our broader ESG disclosure, which will develop over time. The publication of this policy alongside our other ESG
commitments is part of our public accountability for environmental matters.

For further information on our environmental practices and initiatives, please contact Labcold directly.