We’re thrilled to share that CatSci’s Dagenham laboratory has achieved My Green Lab Certification at the prestigious GREEN level — the highest certification attainable, solidifying our commitment to green chemistry.
This recognition is the result of a remarkable journey: we’ve improved our sustainability performance score from 56% to 92%, reflecting the dedication and collective effort of the entire Dagenham team.
The My Green Lab Certification assesses laboratory practices across a broad range of sustainability topics including community engagement, waste and recycling, resource management, purchasing, green chemistry and green biologics, water conservation, plug load management, fume hoods, cold storage, large equipment, infrastructure energy, and travel.
Achieving GREEN level certification confirms that sustainability is truly embedded into our culture and operations.
Duncan Thompson, Head of Dagenham site, said:
Achieving My Green Lab Certification at the highest level is a testament to the Dagenham team’s commitment to embedding sustainability into everything we do. The leap from 56% to 92% reflects not only a focus on operational improvements but also a genuine cultural shift, with green chemistry at the heart of our work. We’re incredibly proud of this achievement and excited to keep pushing forward as leaders in sustainable science.
A Strong Focus on Green Chemistry
At the heart of this achievement is our deep commitment to green chemistry — a critical focus area that directly aligns with our mission to deliver smarter, more sustainable science.
Some of the highlights from this category include:
✅ 100% adoption of greener chemicals in the lab
✅ 100% transition to ambient conditions for reactions and protocols where possible
✅ 94% of processes seek to minimize chemical and reagent use
✅ 85% avoidance of acutely hazardous materials
✅ 81% of staff have actively engaged in discussions about how green chemistry applies to our work
✅ 70% use of greener alternative tools or guides
These practices reduce hazardous waste, improve safety, and lower our environmental impact while maintaining scientific excellence.
Mark Bate, Chief Financial Officer and leader of our ESG initiatives at CatSci, said:
At CatSci, sustainability is more than a commitment, it’s a core part of how we operate. Expanding our Green Labs certification to include the Dagenham site and Reach Separations reflects our dedication to embedding environmentally responsible practices across the business. Achieving the highest Green rating at Dagenham is a proud milestone that demonstrates what’s possible when operational excellence and sustainability go hand in hand.
Our Green Chemistry Labs
In addition to the success at Dagenham, sustainability excellence runs throughout the CatSci Group and our associated businesses. Reach Separations has also achieved impressive certifications, with our Strasbourg lab being awarded Gold certification and our Nottingham site achieving the highest level of certification, Green.
At CatSci, this is part of a longstanding commitment: back in 2021, our analytical laboratory in Cardiff earned Silver certification, while our process chemistry laboratory was awarded the outstanding Platinum certification — the highest recognition available at that time.
Beyond My Green Lab, our sustainability performance has also been recognised at the corporate level: in 2024, CatSci was awarded the Bronze EcoVadis Sustainability Rating, a testament to our unwavering commitment to sustainability, green chemistry, and corporate social responsibility. This Bronze rating places us among the top 35% of companies assessed globally by EcoVadis, underscoring our leadership in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices.
Together, these achievements highlight the breadth and depth of our sustainability efforts, demonstrating that responsible innovation is at the heart of everything we do — across all sites and all teams.
Looking Ahead
This certification is not the end of our sustainability journey — it’s an important milestone that provides a strong foundation for further improvement. The certification report has provided us with additional insights on areas to build upon, and we are committed to continuing this work and raising the bar even further.
We’re incredibly proud of the Dagenham team for achieving this result and for driving meaningful change toward a more sustainable future for science.
Congratulations again to everyone involved!
