Bioresourcing is a life-saving service, but it is also energy-intensive. As a leader in ethical biobanking and cellular therapy services, Biovault is committed to cutting emissions while maintaining world-class standards. In a bold move to expand our sustainability efforts, we’ve now included all scopes of emissions in our reporting, using an online tool to track and benchmark our progress toward Net Zero.
biobank emissions
As the human tissue bank for the NHS South West Peninsula Transplant Service and a bioresource for clinical research and healthcare providers specialising in regenerative therapies, our facility and team help save and improve lives every day. But this essential service doesn’t come without environmental cost.
Bioresourcing relies on continuous cooling, secure backup power, and highly controlled environments. This infrastructure, along with the materials and logistics it depends on, generates a significant carbon footprint.
At Biovault, we’ve always taken the ethical path. It’s why we’ve now committed to full-scope emissions tracking, and to being Net Zero for direct emissions by 2040, and across all scopes by 2045.
“Net Zero is an important initiative to Biovault. Being on the coast, we see the firsthand effects of anthropogenic climate change on our oceans and recently experienced wildfires in our local National Park.
Biovault has always made the ethical choice in all situations and it’s only fitting this continues with our goal of being Net Zero by 2040 for direct emissions and 2045 for all scopes. Our progress so far of a 50% reduction in under 5 years is something we are proud of and I’m looking forward to sharing further reductions in the future.”
A New Provider and Broader Scope
This year marks a significant shift in how we track our carbon impact. We’ve adopted a new online emissions calculator that provides greater flexibility and transparency, particularly for SMEs.
While we've been measuring our Scope 1 and 2 emissions for several years, we've now broadened our approach to include:
Scope 1: Direct emissions from our operations
Scope 2: Indirect emissions from electricity use
Scope 3: Emissions across our value chain, including travel, materials, services, and freight
This shift provides us with a more comprehensive understanding of our environmental impact and a roadmap for improvement.
*CO2e = A carbon dioxide equivalent or CO2 equivalent, abbreviated as CO2e is a metric measure used to compare the emissions from various greenhouse gases on the basis of their global-warming potential (GWP), by converting amounts of other gases to the equivalent amount of carbon dioxide with the same global warming potential.
What the 2024–2025 Report Shows
Using our new reporting tool, we tracked a total of 258.60 tonnes CO₂e, or 25,860 kg CO₂e. For the first time, we’ve mapped our footprint across all three emission scopes:
Scope 1: 1.203 tonnes/1,203 kg CO₂e (heating of buildings)
Scope 2: 25.619 tonnes/25,619 kg CO₂e (electricity)
Scope 3: 231.776 tonnes/231,776 kg CO₂e
— Including:Purchased goods/services (e.g. chemicals, packaging, IT)
Business services (e.g. legal, IT hosting)
Freight and travel (road transport, flights, hotel stays)
Capital goods and fuel-related activities
Notably, the largest slice of Scope 3 emissions comes from purchased goods and services (216.55 tonnes/216,550 kg): a clear target for future reductions.
How We Cut Emissions
Biovault has achieved significant emission reductions through a combination of strategic actions:
Enhanced Energy Efficiency: Upgrading equipment, improving nitrogen usage, optimising freezer performance, and installing LED lighting have all contributed to lower energy consumption.
100% Renewable Electricity: Switching to a fully green energy tariff with British Gas significantly reduced our Scope 2 emissions.
Supplier Engagement: We're working with suppliers to reduce Scope 3 emissions, focusing on sustainable materials, freight, and IT systems.
Operational Improvements: Streamlining logistics, minimising travel, and encouraging low-carbon commuting options, such as walking, cycling, and fuel-efficient vehicles, have helped lower our indirect emissions.
Improved Waste Management: New recycling streams for clean lab plastics and packaging, a zero-to-landfill policy for clinical waste, and secure recycling of confidential waste are reducing our environmental footprint.
Ongoing Monitoring: A comprehensive online emissions calculator now tracks emissions across all scopes, enabling smarter, data-driven decisions.
These targeted efforts have resulted in a reduction of over 50% in total emissions within five years.
Next steps to net zero
Tackle Scope 3 Hotspots
We're working closely with suppliers and service providers to reduce emissions across our value chain, starting with freight, materials, and IT systems. We're also reviewing supply-related waste to identify opportunities for reduction and reuse.Explore On-Site Renewable Generation
Although we've already switched to a 100% renewable electricity contract with British Gas, which significantly reduces our Scope 2 emissions, we're now exploring the potential for on-site solar (PV) generation. Producing our own green energy would reduce transmission losses and free up more renewable capacity for the wider grid.Improve Waste Management and Recycling
Healthcare generates high volumes of single-use plastic waste, primarily due to sterility and safety concerns. We've introduced a separate waste stream in our labs for clean plastics and packaging to increase recycling. All clinical waste is sent to zero-to-landfill processing, and our confidential waste is recycled after appropriate treatment.Encourage Low-Carbon Commuting
We're seeing a shift in commuting habits as our team choose lower-impact options with health and wellbeing benefits. More staff are walking or cycling to work, while others have moved to more efficient vehicles. We’ll continue supporting these positive changes.Boost Energy Efficiency
We're investing in energy-saving measures across our operations, including LED lighting upgrades, evaluating optimal freezer temperatures, and improving the efficiency of our nitrogen usage and filling systems.Build Internal Carbon Literacy
We're rolling out training to help all team members—from lab staff to finance—better understand their role in emissions reduction and how their daily actions contribute to our sustainability goals.