Laying the foundation: KNAUER’s sustainability goals

KNAUER’s journey toward achieving ACT certification began with a strong foundation in sustainability practices. “We are proud to be part of the UN Global Compact and to have ISO 14001:2015 certification,” said Clemens Buncher, Senior Quality & Environmental Manager. “Our Quality Assurance (QA) department, which I am a part of, also handles certification and reporting activities for sustainability and quality. The ACT Ecolabel perfectly fit into the scope of our activities and provided opportunities for improvement.”

When KNAUER decided to pursue the ACT Ecolabel, their goal was to validate and enhance their sustainability efforts while gaining deeper insights into the environmental impact of their products. Soheil Shayesteh, Head of Service and Support, emphasized KNAUER’s commitment to longevity and customer satisfaction: “I see it as the responsibility of manufacturers to develop and produce clean and long-lasting products. This means minimizing the negative effect on the environment while at the same time providing the customer with excellent products.”

“Our aim was to enhance our offerings and confirm that our efforts lead to positive outcomes,” said Buncher. “With the ACT program, we were able to achieve all of these goals for our HPLC systems. My Green Lab provided us with a standardized system to evaluate the sustainability of our products and verify the results to enhance customer trust.”

Navigating the certification process

The auditing process assessed key EIF categories, including materials, manufacturing, packaging, user impact, and end-of-life. Developed with input from industry experts and external stakeholders, these criteria were independently audited by My Green Lab’s collaborator SMS Collaborative, LLC (SMSC). Ultimately, this comprehensive assessment determined the information and EIF score shown on KNAUER’s ACT Ecolabel.

KNAUER’s HPLC systems received the lowest EIF score currently in the ACT database. Throughout their journey to achieve the ACT Ecolabel, KNAUER worked closely with My Green Lab to assess the environmental impact of their HPLC systems, appointing an internal project manager from their QA department to lead the effort.

“Resources from other departments were made available upon request and within reason to support and ensure the progress of the project. New test equipment was made available and our evaluation team in the lab was also involved,” shared Buncher. Collaboration across teams was vital to meeting the rigorous certification criteria. “The longevity and reparability of our products greatly contributed to our score,” noted Buncher. “We were also happy with the measured power consumption of the systems.”

The certification highlighted areas for improvement, as Buncher explained: “The energy consumption of KNAUER products has received more attention through the certification process. The weight of individual components was also highlighted, strengthening our efforts to reduce this in future developments.” He added, “This point is now included in the standard requirement specification for KNAUER products.”

“To see the final results was a very special moment for us,” said Dr. Christian Benkhäuser, Head of Research & Development. “It showed us that we are doing the right things, and it helps us to go this path even further and improve.”

Sustainability as a catalyst for innovation

The ACT Ecolabel’s in-depth evaluation not only validated KNAUER’s sustainability efforts but also spurred further innovation. “In the past, we didn’t focus on using recycled materials,” said Dr. Benkhäuser. “During the ACT certification process, this was a topic that came up, and we started to evaluate possibilities to exchange materials to the recycled versions.”

Dr. Benkhäuser also noted several environmental topics that are now in their development process as a result of the ACT Ecolabel: “Can we use other/less material? How can we make the product more efficient (less material, less energy needed)? How can the device be serviced? That’s maybe the most important point for us: Every device can be serviced very easily, we try to keep the assembly groups small, so that just a few materials are needed to repair.”

Buncher elaborates: “The certification process established a new standard for orientating our product development and management processes, while also reminding us of the importance of sustainability in our product decisions.”

Empowering customers through transparency

The ACT Ecolabel simplifies complex environmental data, empowering laboratories to make informed and sustainable purchasing decisions that align with their environmental goals. “The ACT Ecolabel helps to bring companies and customers with the same philosophy together,” said Dr. Benkhäuser. “It is nice to make it easier for customers to find products that match their sustainability philosophy.”

One of the main goals of the ACT program is to provide laboratories with a database of third-party verified products, simplifying the process of choosing more sustainable products. “The program allows us to quantify our efforts and enables our customers to check our products for sustainability in comparison with competitors. Our sustainable programs and projects which lead to more sustainable products are made more visible,” said Buncher.

Leading the way: a model for sustainability

The ACT Ecolabel enables KNAUER to align its sustainability goals with broader industry benchmarks. “KNAUER wants to provide long-lasting products and service them for as long as possible,” said Shayesteh. “The certification fits into achieving this goal, as it is important to get an external view and to compare with other manufacturers,”

KNAUER’s packaging further supports sustainability, with 80% recycled materials and take-back programs in the US, EU, and UK. These efforts, paired with energy-efficient production and life cycle assessments, demonstrate KNAUER’s dedication to minimizing environmental impact.

Raj Patey, My Green Lab’s Business Development Director, highlighted KNAUER’s industry leadership: “Their exceptional EIF score sets a benchmark for the industry. We’re proud to support KNAUER in this journey toward greater accountability and transparency in lab product sustainability.”

KNAUER’s commitment to sustainability showcases how manufacturers can lead the way in responsible product development, setting a standard for others in the industry to follow. Through continuous improvement and innovation, they are helping shape a greener future for laboratory science.

“There is a lot to think about and to take into account when developing, producing, and maintaining sustainable products,” said Kate Monks, Head of Quality and Regulatory. “We’re proud of our ACT Ecolabel and the excellent score we got for the HPLC systems.”

​
Want to learn more or adopt the ACT program? Browse our website or reach out to us at businessdevelopment@impactlaboratories.com.

Implementing Sustainable Practices

The My Green Lab Certification process begins with a Baseline Assessment Survey, where lab members complete a self-assessment on 14 topics that include recycling and waste reduction, resource management, green chemistry and green biologics and infrastructure energy, allowing My Green Lab to identify current best practices and to recommend additional sustainability actions. Labs then implement these recommendations over several months before retaking the survey to measure their progress. Based on the progress, labs receive an overall score and a certification level, along with new recommendations for ongoing improvement.

For Biogen, the valuable insights gained from this program have facilitated the development of sustainable solutions targeting energy and water usage, waste management, over-purchasing, and beyond.

Enhancing Education​

To support educational efforts around Biogen’s sustainability practices, the Core Committee created detailed site-specific documents. “To ensure education across laboratories on Biogen’s practices, we created an internal document for each site with common Sustainability FAQs that were found in the certificate assessment, and guided laboratories to review this document prior to certification,” said Gilani.

Lab Ambassador Irene Jenkins, Engineer II, underscored the crucial role of education throughout the process. “I think education was most important to our sustainability efforts,” she said. “Our baseline results were heavily affected by the number of ‘I don’t know’ responses, and just by becoming informed and agreeing on sustainability goals for the lab, we significantly improved our score.”

Energy Savings

“A few actions come to mind which improved our certification score compared to our baseline. One action was to audit our lab instruments to identify and label equipment that could be set to stand-by mode or unplugged to reduce the energy demand of idle equipment,” noted Jenkins. “Additionally, our freezers were placed on a scheduled defrost rotation to optimize efficiency.”

Waste Reduction

Understanding proper waste reduction strategies has helped Biogen find ways to reduce, recycle, and reuse. Laboratory changes include switching from single-use plastics to reusable glassware, recycling Styrofoam and soft plastics, and reusing biotainers for Stack Smashing Protector (SSP) buffers.

“Another action was to research vendor recycling programs and improve signage on appropriate recycling practices,” said Jenkins.

Improved Purchasing

Biogen’s team learned practical lessons throughout the certification process that will help drive future decisions, including more widespread understanding of how to read ACT Eco Labels and how to use Energy Star to inform purchasing decisions. “This will help us buy materials with a smaller environmental footprint and equipment that uses energy more efficiently,” said Jenkins. “Additionally, one focus group was tasked with researching then presenting resources available to guide informed purchasing decisions.”

As a result, one Biogen lab in Cambridge, Massachusetts, began using Biotix pipette tips, which contain 30% less plastic than other products, and adopted Polycarbin as a solution for the closed-loop recycling of single-use scientific plastics such as pipette tip boxes. This resulted in the recycling of approximately 411 kilograms of plastic in just seven months. The team is now helping to share this information with colleagues in other labs to encourage its widespread adoption.

Navigating Challenges

The journey toward certification was not without its challenges. One of Biogen’s key obstacles was the differing and complicated nature of its labs. Each lab has unique functions and processes, and some have strict operational standards that are difficult to modify for sustainability purposes. “In those labs, we focused on what we could change toward sustainability rather than what we couldn’t,” noted Gilani. Through education, communication, and the implementation of best practices learned through the My Green Lab Certification program, sustainability became a priority every lab could work towards—while maintaining strict standards for safety and quality, among other considerations.

For Jenkins, awareness was the key to changing lab practices. “Our largest challenge was a lack of awareness, which could lead to default behavior,” she explained. “For example, regular freezer defrosts and coil cleaning was not a consistent proactive maintenance activity for us; instead, it was a reactive strategy when a freezer would fail. By becoming aware of a more effective cadence for freezer defrosts and maintenance to ensure optimal freezer efficiency, we are now proactively preventing failure events.”

Through monthly check-in meetings and feedback loops between lab leaders, Jenkins and her team ensured that all members remained informed and active. “By sharing the responsibility to make change, everyone stayed engaged in the initiative,” said Jenkins.

Cultural Shift Towards Sustainability

Biogen’s certification journey resulted in significant advancements in sustainable lab operations, directly contributing to the organization’s corporate climate goals and demonstrating that change is achievable. “The parameter I am most proud of is 100% engagement from my lab in this initiative,” said Jenkins. “Every member of the lab ended this project more informed and having helped build our target sustainability practices.”

Marielle Thorne, Manager, R&D Lab Operations, highlights how the certification process unveiled new sustainability opportunities. “Early expectations were that we might look at recycling waste or maybe purchasing greener products. As we progressed, we discovered many areas we had not thought about as being part of our sustainability goals,” Thorne said. “Now 100% of the lab’s freezers are at -70,” she continued.

The My Green Lab Certification process not only led to substantial improvements but also catalyzed a cultural shift. Jenkins recalls the achievement lab members felt upon receiving their certification plaques: “You could feel a sense of pride in the effort and changes that took place to reduce our footprint on the planet,” she said.

Starting the Process

In your opinion, why must laboratories be more sustainable?

Dr. Dunbabin: In recent years, many campaigns have encouraged people to change their habits at home such as recycling schemes and reducing plastic waste, however sometimes it can feel like an impossible task to extend this to our laboratories due to the abundance of single-use plastics and toxic materials. If we can reduce the impact of our labs through reducing waste and energy usage on site, this benefits the business and the environment. Going further than that, if we can use our skills as scientists to implement greener processes across the chemical sector this will have a huge impact.

What were some of your specific expectations from the program when you first started? How did those expectations change or develop as you went along?

Dr. Dalton: When we embarked on the program, we were initially not sure what to expect. Once the great team at My Green Lab explained the process to us, things became a lot clearer as to how the process would actually work. Based on our initial interactions, we were confident of great support from the My Green Lab team.

What challenges concerning lab sustainability and engagement were you experiencing before starting the GLC Program?

Dr. Dalton: The main challenge we were experiencing before starting the program about lab sustainability is that we did not know where to start! We needed a framework to help us understand what points to consider and focus on, and to help set goals to work towards. The My Green Lab Certification program has done just that, and now that we have started, we aim to keep the ball rolling and continue to improve our sustainability, especially as we grow into new laboratories.

A Glimpse into the Sustainability Journey 

What were some practical things you did to better integrate sustainability in your lab operations?

Dr. Fleary-Roberts: We had signage put up displaying “could” and “could not” be recycled and shared this with the team in a meeting, we also discussed the best way to minimize the use of single use plastics and suggesting alternatives when safely possible. We also formalized our shut-down procedures to incorporate switching of lights and any equipment that was not in use.

Dr. Dalton: Many of the main things we did to improve our My Green Lab Certification score after the baseline assessment were based around helping our team understand the impact of our labs on the environment. Some of this was information sharing, for instance we found that all our labs and offices had LED lighting but that many people in the team did not know this.

In addition, we reviewed the amount of single-use plastics that we were using for lab work and communicated to the team how they could reduce the amount of single-use plastics they use e.g., by considering re-usable items.

What was the most memorable moment of this journey for you?

Dr. Dunbabin: My favorite moment was when we had gone through the results of the first survey and we knew we had many areas to improve, but we had a plan of action and a great team of people working together.

Dr. Dalton: The most memorable day of the whole journey was the day we got the certification results. We were thrilled with a Platinum award for the Chemistry lab and Silver for our Cardiff-based Analytical lab. The Sustainability Team got so many emails saying well done on the result and there was a buzz around our Cardiff site for the whole day after we got the results!

Creating a Culture Shift

 What effect did the certification process have on the sustainability culture within your organization?

Dr. Fleary-Roberts: We now know what areas need to be focused on and what improvements may be needed in the future. Our team also has a better idea of where we stand and are keen to help introduce new sustainability measures.

What were the most important aspects of your sustainability efforts that affected your score?

Dr. Dalton: The most important aspects of our efforts which affected our score was to help our scientists understand more about how they could use the equipment and processes we have to help make the lab more sustainable. For instance, we found out more about the lighting, ventilation, and energy use in the labs. Our best scores for the labs were in the Fume Hoods, Plug Load, and Large Equipment categories – we have really made an effort to help scientists identify how they can best use the equipment to minimize energy usage and improve sustainability.

What positive lessons have you learned through the certification process that would drive future decisions regarding waste/energy/procurement/water, etc.?

Dr. Dunbabin: By working together across different functions, we can drive changes in all areas of labs. Having perspectives from different areas such as chemistry, facilities, and operations has really helped us to think of new ways to reduce our environmental impact, from the consumables we purchase to equipment usage. 

What advice would you give to similar laboratories/organizations who are pursuing or intend to pursue GLC?

Dr. Dalton: The advice that we would give to other laboratories/organizations like ourselves who are interested in the My Green Lab Certification would be to go for it! Many people are increasingly passionate about sustainability and in a workplace with a positive culture, that passion can be harnessed to help both the business itself and the wider community. Taking on this challenge is also a great personal development opportunity for the employees who lead the efforts, and a real chance for them to make their mark on the organization.

Looking Forward

How does obtaining the certification align with the long-term sustainability objectives of your company and your customers?

Dr. Fleary-Roberts: For our partners and customers, certification is a measurable way of showing that our business takes its environmental impact and sustainability as a priority.

​

How do you anticipate this program completion affecting the long-term workings of the lab?

Dr. Dalton: Overall, we hope that the long-term workings of the lab will now be more considerate of sustainability. Whilst our hard-working scientists are always very busy, by taking the My Green Lab Certification we have shown how relatively small actions can have a big impact on our sustainability. As the company grows and we have more scientists join us, we can build on this momentum and aim to make the lab as sustainable as possible.

The opportunity to reduce the environmental impact of labs through smarter purchases is tremendous. By procuring instruments and products that will reduce waste, reduce energy consumption, reduce solvent/consumable consumption, and last longer (reducing the need to buy and discard more instruments), laboratories can operate in a more environmentally sustainable way.The ACT Environmental Impact Factor (EIF) label was designed to address the needs of both scientists and procurement specialists for clear, third-party verified information about the environmental impact of laboratory products. Standing for Accountability, Consistency, and Transparency, the ACT label is like an eco-nutrition label for laboratory products. It provides information about the environmental impact of manufacturing, using, and disposing of a product and its packaging—making it easy to choose more sustainable products.Agilent Technologies provides instruments, services, consumables, applications, and expertise to life science, diagnostics, and applied chemical markets. With environmental sustainability at the core of their values, Agilent understands the importance of reducing the environmental impact of labs through more sustainable products.

“Increasingly, many labs are looking to reduce their environmental impact—while at the same time increase productivity, lower costs, and improve laboratory health and safety. Our commitment to sustainability has led to a new driver for innovation as we strive to find new ways to help our customers reduce their environmental footprint while maintaining highly successful laboratory operations,” said Darlene Solomon, chief technology officer at Agilent.

​”At Agilent, we strive to produce robust and reliable instruments that last for years, if not decades. By creating long-lasting instrumentation, customers can reduce their turnover and disposal of instruments,” said Jennifer Gushue, associate vice president of global marketing for the Mass Spectrometry Division at Agilent.The Agilent team worked together to complete the ACT label certification process. This project resulted in 30 labels across 10 products, including their liquid chromatography and gas chromatography systems in the EU, UK, and US. These labels are now part of, and available for download in, the My Green Lab ACT Label Database.

A continual need of the life science industry

My Green Lab’s recently published report reveals that just 4% of biotech and pharma companies are currently on track to meet the Paris 2030 climate goals to limit global warming to 1.5 °C. The life science industry must assume responsibility for carbon reduction—including the manufacturers, suppliers, and end users of lab products.Understanding the motivation for green practices is an essential first step in improving the sustainability of scientific research fundamentally and permanently. But what comes next? How do we achieve sustainability in the laboratory?Manufacturers of analytical instrumentation can significantly reduce the impact they impose upon the environment. They can responsibly source their materials and parts and operate in a way that minimizes their environmental footprint, with the long-term goal of being net negative.My Green Lab’s ACT program is helping manufacturers create a culture of sustainability through science. Focused on enhancing sustainability in products and manufacturing for the laboratory industry, ACT is a thoughtfully designed, multi-attribute eco-label program.

A substantial partnership

For Agilent, partnering with My Green Lab’s ACT label program was in line with the organization’s core business model. Agilent produces robust, reliable instruments that last for years and are strategically designed to have less impact on the environment. Through this partnership, Agilent has successfully earned ACT labels for various instruments and systems. The result? Allowing for more environmentally friendly products to end up in the labs of their customers.

“Years ago, I was searching for a suitable program but never found one that looked at products in such a cradle-to-grave approach as the ACT label program. To have this specifically for the laboratory market segment that Agilent serves, was the cherry on the cake,” said Michael Frank, associate vice president of global marketing for the Liquid Phase Separation Division at Agilent.

Agilent’s approach towards sustainable lab products

Agilent engineers pay particular attention to a wide range of factors involved in the product development process. One of these critical factors is the environmental impact of the product. “Our instruments are strategically designed to have a low impact on the environment, and we continue to achieve this through various ways,” explained Michael Frank.Jim Gearing, associate vice president of global marketing for the Gas Phase Separation Division at Agilent added, “Agilent products are designed and built to address hidden associated costs that greatly affect the lab and lab business. Examples of hidden costs may include power use, waste production, removal of packaging materials, and recycling of old equipment, just to name a few.” He continued, “Built-in instrument intelligence for Agilent GCs is also developed with sustainability in mind. Instrument intelligence helps the GC minimize reruns and re-extractions while increasing time efficiency. It also minimizes hazardous waste from unnecessary sample re-extractions, providing savings to the lab.”Working with My Green Lab to certify products through the ACT label program has positively affected Agilent’s sustainability culture, not only with customers, but also within their organization. “The innovation that went into reducing the size of our instruments by 70% without compromising performance has a significant effect on reducing our environmental impact,” stated Jennifer Gushue.

Enabling sustainable procurement

Sustainable laboratory procurement reduces laboratory waste in terms of materials and product packaging. It is also likely to be more cost-effective for lab operations. For instance, sustainable laboratory procurement can save on hidden costs such as power use, waste production, removal of packaging materials, and recycling of old equipment.The ACT label program helps Agilent have better-informed discussions about sustainability with their customers. The labels allow Agilent to obtain a comprehensive overview of the areas that impact the environment most. Ultimately, Agilent can help their customers achieve their own sustainability goals by enabling procurement of environmentally friendly lab instruments.”This certification adds third-party credibility to the emphasis Agilent has had on sustainability for years. Agilent will continue to be environmentally conscious in production, distribution, development, and eventual recycling. Using the ACT label as a measurement tool, we will continue to develop GC systems that save laboratory resources and help our customers meet their sustainability goals,” explained Jim Gearing.

A goal for lasting change

“My Green Lab gave us great recommendations for improvements as well as suggested topics we may consider for longer-term future changes in our instrument platforms and business operations,” said Michael Frank.

Agilent is now pursuing further opportunities regarding its sustainability efforts. These new actions will continue to reduce impact on the environment and provide their customers with greener product innovations. They have also created innovative designs that have significantly reduced the size of instruments, reducing waste by saving resources such as packaging and surplus transportation.

“The ACT certification aligns perfectly with Agilent’s long-term sustainability-guiding principles, which are highlighted in our 2020 CSR Report. Particularly, this enables our customers to operate more sustainably and address world challenges using our products and services,” said Michael Frank. He continued, “Making products sustainably requires a forward-thinking mindset, and I strongly believe that my colleagues who are involved throughout the product development process at Agilent already have this.”

The passion for lab sustainability has spread rapidly at Agilent as more people are engaging in various discussions around sustainability. This is highly encouraging, and Agilent’s partnership with My Green Lab and the ACT label certification will continue to have a positive influence throughout their organization.

Learn more about the ACT label and how you can label your products by clicking here!​

A Glimpse into the Sustainability Journey

What was the most memorable moment of this journey for you?

Dr. Ceresnakova: The most memorable moment was receiving and sharing the feedback score that brought us to the platinum level of certification. Although our baseline score was relatively high already, the second score demonstrated the effort and commitment that all the BioLabs researchers put in to show that we want to and can be a ‘green’ laboratory.

What were some practical things you did to better integrate sustainability in your lab operations?

Dr. Grabrucker: We composed the green practices handbook as a green practice guide for the lab members. Thus, whenever someone does not know what to do with empty batteries, printer cartridges, when to turn off lights, what alternatives for travel to work to a car are available, etc., the handbook has the answer.

We also created an online resource for sharing consumables via a mailing list. For example, chemicals and reagents that are about to expire or no longer needed by one team are put onto the list and, if required, can be accessed by other groups.

Dr. Ceresnakova: As a laboratory that works with biological samples, we use autoclaves daily. Following the baseline assessment, we have adopted a ‘basket system’ where the autoclaves are only used when the basket is full, representing the autoclave capacity.

Janelle Stanton: To educate lab personnel about equipment shut off processes, we implemented a sticker system to communicate if and when specific lab equipment can be powered down. For example, a red sticker equals do not shut down; yellow equals can be shut down at the end of the day, and green equals shut down immediately after use. Our sticker system serves as a reminder and reduces unnecessary energy usage in the lab.

An Impactful Cultural Shift

What effect did the certification process have on the sustainability culture within your organization?

Dr. Ceresnakova: The Green Certification achieved by BioLabs is in line with the sustainable development goals of Bernal Institute and the University of Limerick. Our present actions are vital in times of an environmental tipping point that threatens our future generations. Following our successful BioLabs certification, another University of Limerick department is now undergoing the process. We are delighted we have served as an inspiration and are more than happy to share our knowledge and experience of the certification process.

What positive lessons have you learned through the certification process that would drive future decisions regarding waste/energy/procurement/water, etc.?

Dr. Ceresnakova: The most helpful lesson for me is that even a small change can make a difference and that we should stay open-minded to change and feel accountable for the state at which our labs operate at any given time. Eventually, we are the end-users, and it is up to us to carry out daily tasks sustainably.

Dr. Grabrucker: In my opinion, as soon as the thought process around sustainability enters a lab and you start an inventory list that allows you to assess your current practices, you have won something important.

What advice would you give to similar laboratories/organizations who are pursuing or intend to pursue GLC?

Dr. Grabrucker: Do it! Starting the process, getting an inventory list of current practices, and thinking about sustainability are more important than the outcome. However, getting the ball rolling is key, and for those who are not sure how, the GLC program will be beneficial.
​
Dr. Ceresnakova: My advice would be not to be afraid to start the process because you may think, ‘my lab is old, and it would take ages to achieve sustainability.’ Some changes are much smaller than you think but may have a substantial impact on sustainability. It is primarily the culture of workers that dictates how sustainable you are.

Starting the Process

​

In your opinion, why must manufacturers make laboratory products sustainably?

​For Thermo Fisher Scientific this starts with our mission which is to support science by enabling our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner, and safer. Building environmentally sustainable products is core to our values, and we see it as a responsibility owed to our customers and the planet.

Why do you think sustainable laboratory procurement is essential? 

When purchasing goods or services, it is important that the buyer consider the impact on the environment and society. By sourcing more environmentally sustainable options, we can incentivize suppliers and markets to source and produce greener goods and services – reducing the impact on the environment and society.

What does your organization do differently in the product development process to make your products sustainably?

We continue to invest in and investigate new ways of developing energy efficient products.  Our New Product Development process incorporates environmental sustainability as we bring products to the market. We partner with our suppliers to ensure raw materials are sourced from recycled content wherever available. Further, we manufacture the majority our products in a zero-land fill factory.

What were some of your specific expectations from the program when you first started? How did those expectations change or develop as you went along?

Honestly, we weren’t sure what to expect.  We recognized the environmental importance of having our products evaluated during the ACT label process and wanted to know the individual scores and sum of all of the scores.  We understood that the process would highlight our sustainability strengths and point us towards ways to continuously improve our products and processes. We approached this as a learning experience and recognized that it would provide us input around new ways that we can support our customers in their journey in bringing environmentally sustainable products into the lab. 

​What was your strategy to approach the project of such enormous magnitude? 

Because of the significant value we see in the ACT label we took the leap and went for it. We were unsure the project magnitude until we were a few months into the process, but the team was dedicated to ACT labelling our entire Cold Temperature Technologies portfolio. Much of the heavy lifting was accomplished by a handful of industrious individuals – especially during the data collection and evaluation process.

Bringing the ACT Label to Life

How long did the certification process take from the kick-off call until the label issue?

The entire process was completed in about six months. A few months to really get an understanding of what data was needed, a couple months to summarize and collect data, and then a few months of refining the data submissions and ultimately preparing for the final data audit. It really is an outstanding achievement. We were in the middle of the pandemic working to support ACT label data requests with equipment that is frontline (Ultra-low temperature freezers) in vaccine distribution.

What was the most memorable moment of this whole journey for you?

One of the most memorable moments was when we spent a day weighing and documenting our electronic componentry. This was a tedious process but provided clear insights into where recycled content is currently used during manufacturing and where we can focus on increasing recycled content for the future.

How many people from your team/organization were directly (and indirectly) involved in the ACT label certification process?

~25 people were involved, from product managers, facilities and safety, sales, marketing, procurement, engineering support, and executive level engagement. However, only a handful of employees were needed to oversee the data gathering process.

Results: What The ACT Label Helped Thermo Fisher Scientific Achieve

Could you please describe the specific need/ask this program fulfilled and the challenge it resolved for your organization and product?

ACT labelling our entire Cold Temperature Technologies portfolio demonstrates our commitment to environmental sustainability as a lab equipment manufacturer and puts us in a position to continuously improve our environmental footprint.

How did pursuing and obtaining the ACT label better connect you with your customers?

ACT labelling our portfolio helped us understand the myriad of ways our products can help our customers achieve their sustainability goals. Plus, we can point customer to the ACT Label database for scores and provide helpful insights to how the scores were generated – both of which will allow customers to make informed decisions when purchasing equipment.

What effect did the certification process have on the sustainability culture within your organization?

ACT labeling had a huge influence on our team. As we worked through the process, we were continually educated on areas where we could act as champions for sustainability across the business unit. The effect is that the culture of sustainability was instilled and continues to spread as there is a renewed push for environmental sustainability in our factories and throughout the organization. ​​

“The ACT label process re-energized us and brought renewed focus on the need for better and more environmentally sound practices and processes.”

​How did your organization go beyond energy efficiency through the ACT label certification of the ULT Freezers? 

Energy efficiency, while important, is only a part of the ACT label scoring. We looked extensively at how we build the ULT and where we could reduce waste. We examined where we used recyclable content in our manufacturing and connected with our key suppliers to make improvements. Because of ACT labeling, we are educating our customers and channel partners on the benefits of the ACT label and where better disposal and reduction of waste practices can be used when a product is at the end of its life.  

What were the most important aspects of your sustainability efforts that affected your score? 

Our biggest effort that impacted the ACT label ULT score was the ULT Manufacturing score. We scored a 3 out of 10 because of the fact that the Asheville, NC facility, where our ULTs are manufactured, is a zero waste facility with a state-of-the-art Air Conditioning system where all green foams and coolants are used. This was very impactful to our ACT label score and allowed us an opportunity to bring this to light during the ACT label scoring process.

Future and Long-Term Impact

​”The ACT label certification process helped us value the importance of environmental sustainability as part of our company’s culture – and to keep the culture of ‘thinking green’ during all decision making.”

What positive lessons have you learned through the ACT label certification process that would drive future product development decisions?

The ACT label certification process helped us value the importance of environmental sustainability as part of our company’s culture – and to keep the culture of “thinking green” during all decision making. In particular, we really focused our attention to sourcing raw materials and carefully evaluating our suppliers for their commitment to sustainability as a key element in building more opportunity to bring environmentally friendly practices to our manufacturing.

How does obtaining the ACT certification align with the long-term sustainability objectives of your company and your customers?

​Because of the fact that the label is only valid for two years and requires a re-certification when it expires, the ACT label incentivizes us to improve environmental sustainability across the organization and our supply chain so that we can score better in the re-certification process. The ACT label is a powerful tool for Thermo Fisher Scientific to demonstrate our resolute dedication to our mission of enabling our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer.

“Whether that was water, energy, or plug load, we aimed to boost our green efforts and tick all the boxes before achieving our certification,” says Joyce. “We went from making minor changes such as creating a traffic light system for switching on and off lab equipment to progressively larger tasks such as regularly defrosting freezers and lowering the temperature from -80°C to -70°C.” More than 50 people partook in the changes made to achieve the Platinum level certification throughout the process.

The journey towards their certification began with a survey, which all lab members completed in August of 2020. Once they received their survey results with an overall score of 44% in September 2020, they went to work, extensively researching ways to improve their score and, in turn, their lab sustainability.

“My Green Lab provided us with the foundation and direction to make changes to our day-to- day lab behaviors alongside our research to achieve our greener research goals.”

“When implementing the prescribed changes and behavioral alterations to our work and research, we noticed a trend of sustainability wash over the institute, with people bringing new and exciting ideas to each monthly meeting,” says Joyce.

Questions such as “can we share some of our materials with those in the lab next to us,” and “can we order together to reduce plastic and packaging waste” were being adopted amongst teaching and research facilities.

Prof. Andrew Harkin, Associate Professor of Pharmacology and co-director of TCIN, adds that “expectations grew when the project attracted interest and support, particularly from the laboratory researchers. This initiative helped develop a community of practice and changing mindset.”

After taking their second survey in May 2021, TCIN received an overall score of 70%, resulting in a Platinum Green Lab Certification.

The Benefits of Lab Sustainability

Joyce believes that the MGL Green Lab Certification is essential as it provides a quantifiable metric of their sustainable efforts and successes in the lab, as well as their outreach and resourcefulness as researchers in Trinity College Dublin and Ireland.

During the certification process, the TCIN Green Labs committee developed a Trinity Green Labs Guide, that showcased all of their current eco-friendly practices and lab sustainability research. It also highlighted the changes towards sustainability that TCIN aimed to make in the future.

The benefits of achieving the Green Lab Certification also stretched beyond campus. Joyce describes the certification process as one of “an overarching sense of accomplishment, metamorphosis, and community.” He continues, “the process has enabled the committee to engage with a wide range of people from private companies to help with recycling Styrofoam and local sports clubs and the university gym for repurposing cold packs in the case of sporting injuries.”

“This program permitted us to become an active player in a global initiative and become more sustainable in health science research, putting Ireland’s emerald isle on the map and making TCIN the first in Trinity College Dublin and the second in Ireland to achieve this status.”

As per Roselli, “Everyone thinks twice before using single-use plastic or wasting water, and finally, everyone is engaged in making the lab a greener place, while before, just a few people were involved.”

Looking Forward

Trinity College Dublin has committed to being carbon neutral by 2030, and there is no doubt that labs will have an enormous impact on meeting that goal. Recent measures, including installing water fountains, communal scanners & printers, and engaging with estates and facilities on the provision of parking facilities for bicyclists, are helping build a culture of sustainability.

Completing the Green Lab Certification is helping to shape Trinity College’s long-term sustainability goals. “With a more connected network of advocates for green research throughout TCIN, we can bulk order supplies, share excess reagents, and include green lab practices and waste management during the orientation process for incoming students and researchers,” says Joyce.

“I think the MGL program will positively impact my lab in a long way. Both from an environmental point of view and from an economic point of view,” Roselli continues.

“Seeing the fruits of our labor amount to a tangible and recognizable entity was an achievement shared by all those involved. One that I hope all other labs and research centers get the privilege of experiencing.”