Sustainability

Environment

At CrestOptics we believe that the protection of the environment is a commitment and a prerequisite of any form of innovation because sustainability and modernization come through the protection of territory.

To do this, CrestOptics is committed to operating in a manner that complies with current laws and regulations and implements actions to reduce its environmental impacts and prevent any risks.

CrestOptics is firmly convinced that it wants to contribute to this challenge, for this reason, where possible, it is committed to minimizing waste and maximizing the recycling of materials, limiting the generation of CO2 opposing the deforestation of the planet, and encouraging the use of alternative forms of energy.

Environmental initiatives

Below are some of the initiatives that aim to reduce the environmental impact.

Shortening the supply chain to contain CO2 emission by selecting strategic suppliers in local area and limiting shipments
Collection of cigarette remains that can be sent to a recycling process through collaboration with Re-Cig
Installation by Enel X of a charging station for electric vehicles in the internal car park
Frequently donating funds to Treedom to always plant new trees and support social activities
Offering employees the possibility of a sustainable lunch through Foorban and thus avoiding food waste and the use of riders with an impact on CO2 emissions
Participating in the Beach Litter project organized by Legambiente to clean up the local marine coast

Microscopy upcycling initiatives

Upgrade Your Science, Not Your Budget: The Microscopy Upcycling Initiative

As part of our commitment to making advanced technology accessible to all laboratoriess, we can transform your legacy imaging equipment into a state-of-the-art, high-performance system. This is made possible by the exceptional flexibility and seamless integration of our technology with third-party systems.

WHY CHOOSE UPCYCLING?

COST-EFFECTIVE

Overcome funding limitations by reusing your existing hardware (frames, cameras) rather than purchasing a full system replacement.

ECO-FRIENDLY

Embrace a sustainable approach to laboratory equipment by recycling and upgrading rather than discarding.

ELEVATED SCIENCE QUALITY

Boost your image resolution and data quality to meet the demands of high-impact scientific journals.

WANT TO EVALUATE YOUR LEGACY SYSTEM?

Contact us to get prompt support with your upgrade. Just share the details of your current setup with us!

Microscopy upcycling success stories

1. Upcycling with X-Light V2, CEMIPAI - CNRS/Université Montpellier, France

The Setup: A former spinning disk system successfully upgraded with an X-Light V2 spinning disk, with Lumencor Celesta 7 light source and Hamamatsu Quest 2 on a ZEISS AxioObserver. The system is fully integrated with ZEN Software.

Affiliation and Research Team: Dr. Sébastien Lyonnais, Ph.D., Responsable plateau microscopies L3, Centre d’étude des maladies infectieuses et pharmacologie anti-infectieuse CEMIPAI – UAR 3725 – CNRS/Université Montpellier.

The Impact: By upcycling their existing system, the Microscopy facility transformed their equipment into a high-performance platform, directly supporting high-level viral interaction research and advancing the study of infectious diseases.

Our Local Distributor: System integrated by Lordil Microscopie

“At Lordil, we believe innovation should elevate performance while protecting both investment and resources. By integrating CrestOptics technology into existing microscopy systems, we transform established platforms into high-performance imaging solutions. Our upcycling strategy extends the lifespan of scientific equipment, reduces environmental impact, and enables laboratories to access cutting-edge capabilities without the cost and disruption of full system replacement. It’s a smarter, more sustainable way to empower research.” – Noel Converset, Specialiste Application at Lordil

2. Upcycling with X-Light V3, Menzies Institute of Medical Research, Australia

The Setup: A former system successfully upgraded with an X-Light V3 spinning disk, integrated with Inscoper Software and a Nikon TiE microscope featuring a dual camera setup.

Affiliation and Research Team: Dr. Jessica Fletcher (Principal Investigator) and Dr. Olivier Bibari (Facility Manager), Menzies Institute of Medical Research, University of Tasmania.

“CrestOptics has successfully integrated their spinning disk, X-Light V3, to our existing Nikon TiE microscopes. This enhancement transforms it into an exceptional instrument capable of producing high-resolution multicolor images with an extensive field of view and remarkable speed. Students are now able to complete their imaging sessions more efficiently, allowing a greater number of them to generate outstanding confocal images.” – Dr. Olivier Bibari

The Impact: By upcycling their existing microscopes with the X-Light V3, the lab transformed their equipment into high-speed, high-resolution systems, significantly reducing imaging time and empowering more scientists to capture high-quality confocal data.

Our Local Distributor: System integrated by Klein Scientific

“The X-Light V3 spinning disk from CrestOptics is a fantastic way to upgrade older equipment. While the optics of the older system remained excellent, the sensitivity, speed and imaging throughput no longer met the needs of the cutting-edge research at the Menzies Institute. Even I was surprised at how fast and efficient the older technology became when it was upgraded with the CrestOptics X-Light V3 and the Inscoper software.” – Ben Hibbs, Director at Klein Scientific

3. Upcycling with CICERO, MFP-CNRS / Université de Bordeaux, France

The Setup: A former widefield system successfully upgraded to a spinning disk confocal with a CICERO Spinning Disk, equipped with a Lumencor Aura III light source and a Hamamatsu Orca Flash 4 Camera on a Leica DMi-6000 inverted microscope embedded into an environmental chamber.

Affiliation and Research Team: Dr. Harald Wodrich, Director of Research, and the SpacVir Team (Spatial and temporal control of virus-host interactions), Laboratoire de Microbiologie Fondamentale et Pathogénicité (MFP) CNRS / Université de Bordeaux.

“The ease of installation, the performance, and the quality of the images acquired immediately appealed to us. With the acquisition of CICERO, we were able to upgrade our acquisition system to a spinning disk confocal at a reasonable cost.” – Dr. Harald Wodrich

The Impact: Supported high-level research on virus-host interactions, allowing the tracking of individual viral genomes and infections in living cells and reconstituted bronchial epithelia over several days. The upgrade enabled multi-wavelength, long-term confocal time-lapses with minimal phototoxicity.

Our Local Distributor: System integrated by ImageXcell

“This synergy allows us to provide a cost-effective solution without compromising on performance or image quality. It serves as a prime example of seamless installation and integration of the CICERO Spinning Disk Confocal system into a BSL2 laboratory imaging setup, particularly suitable for laboratories with limited budgets” – Marie-George Côme, Business Development Manager & Founder at ImagXcell

4. Upcycling with X-Light V3, Sydney Microscopy & Microanalysis, Australia

The Setup: A former system successfully upgraded with an X-Light V3 spinning disk, integrated with a Nikon TiE microscope featuring a dual camera setup and controlled via NIS software.

Affiliation and Research Team: Dr. James Burchfield (Principal Investigator) and Dr. Neftali Flores Rodriguez (Facility Manager), Sydney Microscopy & Microanalysis, Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney.

“The decision to ‘upcycle’ our Nikon/Andor spinning disk confocal by replacing an 8-year-old Diskovery unit with the CrestOptics X-Light V3 has been a resounding success for our facility. By retaining our existing Nikon Ti body and associated hardware, we were able to seamlessly integrate top-tier imaging technology while significantly extending the operational life of our original investment. The impact on our research community was immediate.

Our users have been highly impressed by the signal sharpness and exceptional field uniformity, which has proven vital for interrogating more complex 3D specimens. From a facility management perspective, the X-Light V3’s design, particularly its resistance to dust, provides incredible peace of mind regarding long-term reliability. This upgrade proves that you don’t need to start from scratch to achieve high-performance results; you just need the right technology to breathe new life into proven hardware.” – Dr. Neftali Flores Rodriguez

The Impact: Upcycling their existing Nikon Ti microscope with the CrestOptics X-Light V3 provided an immediate boost to the facility’s research capabilities. For the research team, this upgrade delivered exceptional signal sharpness and field uniformity, both critical factors when capturing complex 3D specimens. Additionally, the X-Light V3’s seamless integration and dust-resistant design ensure long-term reliability, providing facility management with complete operational confidence.

Our Local Distributor: System integrated by Klein Scientific

“I have long admired the amazing facility at the Charles Perkins Centre, but their large user base means instruments are heavily used, especially workhorse systems like spinning disk confocal microscopes. I loved that we were able to retain the existing microscope base and incubator, yet the upgrade to a CrestOptics X-Light V3 spinning disk improved sensitivity, imaging speed and field of view, everything that makes the system more efficient and faster to use.” – Ben Hibbs, Director at Klein Scientific

Don’t let aging technology limit your research!

Contact our team and our certified integration partners to discuss how we can upcycle your current frame and camera into a next-generation spinning disk system!

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Governance

At CrestOptics, we have taken on the responsibility of creating value not just for our customers and shareholders but also for the Environment, Society, and Governance (ESG). Our mission is to lead change by introducing new criteria in the day-to-day management of our operations and in our business development planning.

Committed to the Sustainability Challenge

Our Board of Directors has stepped up by appointing an ESG Champion among its members and establishing an ESG Committee made up of four internal resources. This team is tasked with leading sustainable initiatives and monitoring their outcomes. It is a challenge we embrace with the contributions of everyone, from our colleagues to collaborators, aiming to kickstart a virtuous cycle in our daily behaviors and the principles guiding our business decisions.

As part of our commitment to society, our people and the environment, we completed a thorough assessment of our business sustainability practices through EcoVadis, a global leader in business sustainability assessments. The EcoVadis assessment includes 21 sustainability criteria across four core themes: Environment, Labor & Human Rights, Ethics and Sustainable Procurement. For the second consecutive year, we have strengthened our commitment to sustainability by earning the EcoVadis Bronze Medal. The latest rating, completed in November 2025, demonstrates our continuous progress with an improved absolute score compared to 2024.

Transparent and Responsible Governance

We have adopted governance practices aligned with the highest standards, promoting a continuous exchange of information between management and the Board of Directors. Our reporting activities are transparent and detailed, supporting continuous improvement initiatives and performance measurement in line with our business KPIs. The appointment of Committees, a Supervisory Body, and a Board of Statutory Auditors, complemented by a Code of Ethics and an updated Whistleblowing policy, guarantees effective oversight of legal compliance and mitigates potential detriment to both shareholders and stakeholders at large.

Headquarters

CrestOptics is experiencing rapid growth, resulting in the acquisition of new spaces in our Headquarters in Rome. This expansion not only highlights our progress, but it also signifies our new vision and perspectives for the future. With increased capacity and resources, we are well-positioned for scalability and to take on greater opportunities. Additionally, we pride ourselves on maintaining a safe work environment, as evidenced by our flawless track record of zero accidents. Our commitment to safety underscores our dedication to the well-being of our employees and reinforces our reputation as a responsible and solid organization.

Social

The growth of our employees is of great importance to us as we recognize the crucial role that human resources play in driving our company’s progress. To foster our company’s growth, we have implemented comprehensive training and coaching programs. These initiatives are designed to enhance the attitudes and work skills of each employee, in every department, enabling them to better contribute to the company’s objectives. We aim to attract and retain talent through the development of skills, engagement, corporate culture, and work environments.

Through continuous learning and skill-building, we empower our employees to perform their roles efficiently and effectively, ensuring their personal and professional growth alongside the company’s development.

Employees

61 in 2024

34 Years

Average age

Talent assessment

and skills mapping

Collaborations in science

Our company has successful collaborations with renowned Research Institutes to foster significant advancements in the field of microscopy. We would like to mention:

EMBL (European Molecular Biology Laboratory) in Rome
We collaborated with Dr. Crevenna, Head of Light Imaging Facility, in the development of DeepSIM super-resolution applications, in particular, in the spatial-omics field.
Click here to read a dedicated Application Note.
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore and Fondazione Universitario Policlinico A. Gemelli IRCCS in Rome
We are supporting a Ph.D. project on basic and applied research, also providing our microscopy technologies to address scientific inquiries.
Click here to discover more about this collaboration.
IIT (Italian Institute of Technology) and Università La Sapienza in Rome
We are assisting in a Ph.D. project by offering our microscopy technologies to investigate scientific questions. In a recent webinar in collaboration with Prof. Silvia Di Angelantonio, we showed advancement related to this project regarding cleared organoid imaging.
Click here to watch a dedicated Webinar

Moreover, through combined efforts with partners and distributors, we have conducted seminars and training sessions worldwide (see “Highlights” session for further details), imparting knowledge and expertise in microscopy techniques to support student educational paths. As mentioned before, we have also embraced virtual webinar events to create and disseminate educational content focused on microscopy technologies and applications.

This multifaceted approach underscores our commitment to emphasizing the significance of microscopy in scientific research, both from technical and application perspectives, and supports the scientific training of scientists.