EpigenTek has been awarded a bronze medal from EcoVadis in recognition of its commitment to sustainability and ethics. Outperforming 63 percent of the other companies that applied for this assessment, EpigenTek is also rated in the top 23% of the life sciences industry.

EcoVadis is a ratings platform that audits and evaluates more than 75,000 companies on their environmental performance based on 21 indicators divided into four categories: environment, labor & human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement. The areas of particular focus are Environment, Labor/Human Rights, and Ethics. Some specific strengths of EpigenTek that EcoVadis highlighted include:

• Initiatives to reduce office waste (paper, cardboard, cartridges, computer parts, etc.)
• Encouragement of on-site recycling through proper office waste disposal
• Exemplary policy of comprehensive health care coverage of employees
• Regular assessment (annually) of individual performance
• Training of relevant employees and comprehensive documentation on health and safety risks
• Standardized policies on information security
• Standardized policies on conflicts of interest, whistleblowing, and corruption issues

EpigenTek is reducing our environmental footprint by eliminating unnecessary printing. We find that most of our customers refer to and print in advance the user guides/datasheets posted on our product pages, and our returning customers do not need the same printed information over and over again. Not only does this initiative help to expedite our logistics during order fulfillment, but we can collectively reduce ink and paper waste for a more sustainable Earth. Digital datasheets are easily accessible online at epigentek.com/datasheet.

EpigenTek takes its responsibility to ethically produce antibodies and also expects its contract manufacturers and suppliers to adhere to the humane treatment and proper welfare of animals during the production process, including the following:

• Least invasive inoculation process with appropriate aseptic technique and minimal injection volume
• Regular monitoring of injection sites for potential inflammation or lesions
• Preference for non-Freund’s Adjuvants unless absolutely necessary of which only one priming dose of Freund’s Complete Adjuvant is permitted
• Provision of regular care, sufficient feeding, and non-crowded habitat with acceptable hygiene to minimize stress and risk of infection
• Assessment process for the welfare, pain, and distress levels of animal, and proper euthanization when such visible signs are detected
• Blood collection preference via ear vein by local anesthesia and needle if with rabbits, and terminal anesthesia required for any cardiac puncture
• Maximum volume of blood removed should not exceed 10% of total blood volume if collected every two weeks, and not exceed 15% if collected every four weeks
• Disposition of animals should be conducted by humane euthanasia procedures or, more preferably, by re-homing where relevant adoption programs are in place