Environmental Policy Statement
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Statement
Introduction
At Analytical Expert Labs, our work sits at the intersection of science, justice and public trust. The evidence we examine and the services we deliver have a direct and lasting impact on people’s lives. This responsibility shapes our commitment to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) excellence.
We endeavour to approach ESG with the same rigour, independence and integrity that define our forensic practice, recognising that how we operate is as important as the scientific outcomes we produce.
We aim to be a sector leader in responsible forensic services and our ambition is to:
- Integrate ESG thinking into every major business decision
- Increase transparency with clients and partners
- Demonstrate measurable progress, not just policy commitments
- Balance scientific precision with social and environmental responsibility
- Be a workplace where people are safe, supported, valued and empowered
Our ESG priorities are informed by regular engagement with our clients, staff, regulators, and community partners to ensure we focus on the issues that matter most. ESG performance is overseen by our Board and driven by a cross-functional ESG committee, ensuring accountability at every level
Environmental Stewardship
We are committed to operating in a way that protects the environment, reduces our carbon footprint and supports long-term sustainability across all parts of the Group.
Our priorities include minimising resource consumption, reducing waste, strengthening biodiversity around our facilities, and embedding circular-economy principles where practicable.
We expect the same environmental responsibility where possible from the suppliers and partners we work with, ensuring that sustainability remains a shared priority across our value chain.
We regularly assess environmental risks and opportunities, integrating them into our risk management processes.
Our focus areas:
- Minimising waste through ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ principles
- Reducing energy consumption through efficient technologies and behavioural awareness
- Responsible travel policies and reduced non-essential mileage
- Annual carbon footprint analysis and publication of carbon reduction plans
- Supporting biodiversity around our sites and within our supply chain
Our Environmental KPIs
| KPI | Target |
|
Annual CO₂e footprint (Scopes 1, 2 and measured Scope 3) |
Year-on-year reduction of at least 5% until 2030 |
| Waste diverted from landfill | >20% year-on year reduction in recycled waste |
| Energy consumption per FTE | 2% annual reduction |
| Percentage of procurement from environmentally responsible suppliers | 50% of critical suppliers assessed for environmental compliance within 18 months |
Social Value & Community Impact
As a specialist forensic services provider, our contribution to society extends far beyond the delivery of scientific outputs. We play a vital role in supporting the criminal justice system, protecting the vulnerable and contributing to safer, fairer communities.
Our people are central to our success. We foster a culture built on respect, inclusion, wellbeing and continuous development, where every colleague is valued and able to contribute their best. We are proud supporters of the Armed Forces Covenant, a Disability Confident Employer, and an organisation committed to fairness, equality and opportunity for all.
We support diversity and inclusion by providing regular training and encourage feedback from staff and stakeholders.
We invest in social value through skills development, community engagement, charitable support and initiatives that improve opportunities for those who are vulnerable or disadvantaged. For us, social responsibility is not a project, it is a daily practice embedded in how we work, how we lead and how we serve the public good.
Our focus areas:
- Ethical recruitment, equal opportunities, and disability-confident employment practices
- Commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant
- Support for charitable, community and voluntary initiatives
- Providing safe, healthy working environments
- Supporting local economic growth through supplier engagement and local enterprise support
Our Social KPIs
| KPI | Target |
| % of employees completing annual Equality, Diversity and Inclusion training | 100% completion |
| % of staff involved in community or volunteer initiatives | 1 day per employee per year |
| Local & VCSE procurement spend | 5–10% of total discretionary spend directed towards SMEs/start-ups/VCSEs |
| Employee engagement score | ≥ 75% or ↑ 5pp YoY |
Governance, Ethics & Accountability
Integrity is fundamental to forensic science, and it is equally fundamental to how we lead our business. Our governance framework ensures impartiality, transparency and compliance with the Forensic Science Regulator’s Code, ISO/IEC 17025:2017 where applicable across the group and the standards that underpin our independence as forensic specialists.
We maintain rigorous quality systems, robust information security, strong data protection practices and ethical business processes throughout the Group. We expect the same high standards from our suppliers and partners and uphold a zero-tolerance approach to corruption, modern slavery, discrimination and unethical conduct.
Our clients, partners and communities can have full confidence that our decisions are grounded in professionalism, responsibility and respect.
We are working towards publishing annual ESG report and providing regular updates on our website, inviting feedback from all stakeholders.
Our focus areas:
- Maintaining our required accreditations across the group
- Ensuring impartiality and managing conflicts of interest
- Upholding ethical standards in all operations
- Transparent stakeholder engagement and reporting
- Maintaining robust data protection, GDPR compliance and information security
Our Governance KPIs
| KPI | Target |
| Compliance with ISO/IEC 17025:2017 & FSR Code audit actions where applicable | Zero major non-conformities |
| % of staff completing mandatory information security training | 100% completion |
| Number of substantiated concerns about impartiality/ethical breaches | Zero |
| Stakeholder ESG communication frequency | Quarterly ESG performance updates shared with clients and staff |
Our Commitment
We will continue to strengthen our ESG performance by embedding sustainability into business strategy, enhancing the resilience and responsibility of our operations, and collaborating with clients, partners, suppliers and communities to drive meaningful progress.
Our ESG approach is dynamic. As expectations evolve and opportunities emerge, we will continue to refine our actions, report transparently and set higher standards for ourselves and our sector.