Sustainability

Our priorities

In 2021 we reassessed our approach to sustainability, with a view of integrating a sustainability strategy into our core business activities, aligning ourselves with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Our priorities are:

• Development of clean technologies
• Operational eco-efficiency
• Health, safety, and wellbeing

Going helium free

Existing MRI systems rely on liquid helium to cool the superconducting magnets at the heart of each system. Helium is a scarce, non-renewable resource, mostly obtained as a by-product of oil extraction. Our compact MRI has a smaller footprint, to enable us to rely on mechanical cooling only, thus eliminating use of helium in these systems.

Pollution prevention

Coal satisfied about 40% of the global electricity demand. However, as most people are aware, coal is also the most polluting fossil fuel and the industry is coming under increasing pressure to reduce harmful emissions.

We have developed a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) system which combines the flue gases with precise amounts of ammonia or urea over catalysts that speed the reduction of nitrogen oxide (NOx) into nitrogen and water.

Reducing our carbon intensity

We track carbon intensity across our UK and overseas sites. Our operational eco-efficiency initiatives are successfully delivering energy savings and reductions in emissions.

Sustainability governance

We have developed a robust governance structure which supports proactive and collaborative working across the Group.

PLC Board: The PLC Board take ultimate responsibility the sustainability strategy and how it relates with the broader purpose, vision, and strategy.

Sustainability Committee: Made up of individuals from across the Group who have experience of implementing ESG initiatives, establishing site targets and governance, and monitoring energy and carbon data. Members provide regular updates to the PLC Board and undertake environmental training, which includes modules on the UN Sustainability Goals, Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR), and Energy Resilience.

Site level: The Group operate from multiple locations across the Globe. Carbon intensity goals are set at a site level, and the General Managers are given responsibility for achieving these targets.

Membership of business associations

At Avingtrans, we are proud to be members of Make UK, the leading organisation championing and supporting British manufacturers. Make UK plays a vital role in driving the UK’s manufacturing sector towards a more sustainable and innovative future, advocating for policies that encourage low-carbon solutions and sustainable growth. By collaborating with Make UK, our UK sites actively engage in initiatives that promote environmental responsibility, industry best practices, and cutting-edge innovations. This partnership reinforces our commitment to sustainability, helping us continuously improve and align with global ESG standards while contributing to a more sustainable manufacturing ecosystem.

Health and Safety

A safe work environment is one of our core priorities, and we continuously invest in training, equipment, and processes to uphold the highest health and safety standards across our sites. In financial year 2024, we recorded 68 employee health and safety incidents, compared to 55 in the prior year year, with no contractor incidents in either period. While the total number of incidents increased, the incident rate per employee remained steady at 8 incidents per 100 employee (prior year: 8), with the contractor incident rate continuing at 0. These figures reflect our ongoing commitment to workplace safety and our proactive approach to mitigating risks. We remain focused on improving safety measures, engaging employees in risk awareness, and fostering a culture where health and safety is at the forefront of everything we do.

Our largest 4 sites (based on employee numbers), have a designated individual responsible for Health, Safety and Environmental matters. These individuals take responsibility for inspection, incident investigation, making recommendations, implementing best practices and ensuring proper communication.

In the 2024 financial year there have been no employee or contractor fatalities resulting from operational accidents.