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Environmental, Social, and Governance across The Medicine Accelerator (APC & VLE Therapeutics)

Sustainability is embedded in how we operate and improve.

Our ESG practices reduce operational risk, strengthen audit readiness, and ensure our science is backed by responsible, sustainable practices. Our goal is to minimise environmental impact while driving innovative, measurable practices across our business. This page summarizes our ESG framework, BeGreen@Cherrywood programme, progress metrics, and third-party recognition.

What is ESG?

ESG stands for Environmental, Social, and Governance. It is our framework used to assess an organization’s impact and sustainability across three core areas.

Environment
Focuses on how we perform as a steward of nature.

  • Environmental metrics (e.g., carbon footprint, water usage)

  • Sustainability goals (e.g., emissions reduction targets)

  • Green initiatives and programmes (e.g., renewable energy)

Social
Addresses how we manage relationships with people & society.

  • Internal and external communications

  • Actions supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion

  • Employee welfare, labour practices, and community engagement

Governance
Covers leadership, oversight, & ethical practices.

  • Corporate policies and compliance

  • Strategic planning and risk management

  • Transparent reporting and accountability

Environment

  • SBTi Initiative

    The Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) helps companies set emissions targets aligned with the Paris Agreement. These aim to limit warming to well below 2°C, ideally 1.5°C.
    Our target was approved via the SME streamlined route.

  • Sustainable Development Goals

    At the Medicine Accelerator, we promote a cleaner, sustainable, and employee-friendly environment.
    Aligned with UN SDGs, we focus on Good Health (3), Clean Energy (7), and Climate Action (13).

  • Greenhouse Gas Emissions

    Greenhouse gases (CO₂, CH₄, H₂O, N₂O) trap heat, keeping Earth warm but causing global warming as levels rise. The Medicine Accelerator monitors its emissions and seeks more sustainable ways to operate.

  • Company Targets

    As we strive to become the greenest and most sustainable Irish pharmaceutical company, we’ve set targets to reduce emissions and operate sustainably across all business functions.

  • Learn more

    Download the ESG Report

Social: BeGreen@Cherrywood - Building a Sustainable Future through Practical, Measurable Action

  • Waste & Recycling

    This pillar focuses on reducing, reusing, and recycling across the business. We’re building better habits through smarter systems, clearer guidance, and improved traceability.

  • Utilities Mgmt & Optimisation

    Driving smarter energy use is at the heart of this pillar. We’re improving performance through live monitoring, analytics, and targeted facility upgrades.

  • Green Labs

    Our labs are evolving into greener spaces through proven initiatives that reduce water usage, cut waste, and improve energy performance.

  • Audit Readiness & Governance

    This pillar keeps us ahead of regulations and reporting requirements so we remain audit-ready. We align our ESG efforts with relevant frameworks and centralize resources to make evidence easy to access and report.

  • Awareness and Engagement

    We believe sustainable change starts with people. This pillar builds a culture of environmental responsibility through practical training, clear communication, and campaigns that make it easy for teams to take informed action every day.

  • Learn more

    Download the ESG Report

Governance

  • VSME

    The VSME is a framework by EFRAG to help SMEs report sustainability in a clear, credible way.
    It meets growing demands from companies, investors, and CSRD requirements.

  • Climate Strategy

    APC & VLE Therapeutics partnered with EcoAct in 2024 to develop a 5-year climate strategy roadmap. It outlines targets, stakeholder engagement, and actions to achieve Net-Zero ambitions.
    EcoAct delivers data-driven sustainability solutions through analytics and innovation.

  • Double Materiality Matrix

    Materiality identifies key issues for a company, while double materiality covers both financial and environmental/social impacts. It is essential for ESG reporting and required under CSRD. The Medicine Accelerator tracks this annually through its Double Materiality Matrix.

  • CSRD

    The CSRD makes ESG reporting mandatory, treating it as important as financial reporting.
    It ensures companies balance operations with their impact on people and the planet.
    The directive promotes transparency and accountability in sustainability.

  • Learn more

    Download the ESG Report

Our Commitments & Targets

Energy efficiency
By 2030, we are committed to reducing our energy emissions by 42% through retrofitting facilities with energy-efficient LED lighting and optimizing air-handling units.

Water conservation
By 2025, we aim to reduce water consumption by 30% by installing water-efficient technologies and improving processes to reuse and recycle water wherever possible.

Waste reduction
By 2030, APC and VLE Therapeutics will have zero municipal waste sent to landfills. Our goal is to recycle 80% of municipal waste by 2025 and eliminate single-use plastics from our office space. We have already made strides, including moving toward paperless operations.

Sustainable travel
To reduce our carbon footprint, we have committed to cutting travel-related emissions by 30% by 2030 through remote working policies, increased video conferencing, and encouraging public transport and cycling.

Green solvent use
By 2025, at least 50% of our solvent use will be kept at solvent class 3, working with suppliers and research partners to transition to eco-friendly materials in R&D processes.

Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi)
The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a global body that enables companies to set greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets aligned with climate science and the Paris Agreement. APC and VLE Therapeutics’ greenhouse gas reduction target, approved by the SBTi under the SME route, commits to a 42% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 from a 2022 base year, and to measure and reduce Scope 3 emissions.

ESG documentation and evidence packs

For audits and due diligence, supporting materials are available on request. Typical items include:

  • Scope 1, 2, and Scope 3 calculation summaries and supporting notes

  • ESG Double Materiality Matrix outputs

  • Utilities dashboards and reporting extracts (energy, water, gas)

  • Audit preparation documentation (including SEAI-related materials)

  • EcoVadis and CDP assessment outcomes and supporting context

  • VSME template and associated materials

  • ESG SharePoint resource access (where appropriate)