News – My Green Lab – Education https://mygreenlab.org Creating a culture of sustainability through science Tue, 05 Aug 2025 00:27:07 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.2 https://mygreenlab.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/my-green-lab-favicon-100x100.png News – My Green Lab – Education https://mygreenlab.org 32 32 PSCI Endorses Converge Supplier Initiative to Cut Scope 3 Emissions in Pharma https://mygreenlab.org/the-beaker-blog/psci-endorses-converge-supplier-initiative-to-cut-scope-3-emissions-in-pharma/ Wed, 18 Jun 2025 18:24:00 +0000 https://mygreenlab.org/?p=38282

My Green Lab is proud to announce that our Converge Supplier Initiative has been endorsed by the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Initiative (PSCI). This endorsement from PSCI—the leading membership association for pharmaceutical and healthcare companies united to deliver responsible value chains—underscores growing momentum across the pharmaceutical industry to reduce supply chain (Scope 3) emissions and foster more sustainable lab operations.

The Converge Supplier Initiative is a unique industry collaboration designed to support pharmaceutical suppliers—including Contract Research Organizations (CROs), Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMOs), and Contract Development & Manufacturing Organizations (CDMOs)—in achieving My Green Lab® Certification. This certification framework enables suppliers to reduce environmental impact, cut energy and water use, lower costs, and align lab operations with corporate sustainability goals.

Leading pharmaceutical companies, including AbbVie, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, GSK, MilliporeSigma, Takeda, and UCB, have not only walked the talk by implementing My Green Lab Certification in their own labs to drive down emissions, but also have joined forces to educate and empower their outsourced research partners through the Converge Supplier Initiative. To date, over 147 supplier organizations have joined the initiative, with 32 already completing pilot certifications.

“The research supply chain represents a significant portion of the pharmaceutical industry’s environmental footprint,” said James Connelly, CEO of My Green Lab. “This endorsement by PSCI reinforces the power of collaborative action and positions the Converge Supplier Initiative as a proven, scalable solution for driving impact reduction on the ground in the labs across the industry.”

PSCI unites pharmaceutical and healthcare companies to advance responsible supply chain practices and drive improved safety, environmental, and social outcomes across the global value chain. Together, PSCI and My Green Lab are aligned in their vision for a more sustainable and collaborative future in science.

“Bristol Myers Squibb is excited to see two important relationships come together with PSCI and Converge. With Converge providing a hands-on, practical approach for suppliers with lab operations to address their footprint through My Green Lab Certification, it dovetails well with PSCI’s drive to see the adoption of sustainable practices in pharmaceutical supply chains. This partnership can accelerate the critical need for pharmaceutical supply chains to reduce their footprint while continuing their missions of delivering for patients,” said Devin Carsdale, Associate Director of Sustainability at Bristol Myers Squibb and PSCI Decarbonization Team Co-Lead.

“We proudly operate 17 labs globally, all of which have achieved My Green Lab Certification,” said Bill Sterling, Senior Director of Global Environmental Health and Safety, IQVIA Laboratories. “The My Green Lab program has been instrumental in fostering a culture of sustainability and engaging employees at all sites. It helps support our mission to accelerate innovation for a healthier world and features prominently in our annual sustainability report.”

PSCI’s endorsement also supports the broader United Nations-backed Race to Zero campaign, which calls for 95% of participating organizations’ laboratories globally to achieve My Green Lab Certification at the highest ‘Green’ Level by 2030, a critical milestone in the path of net-zero emissions in science.

Ready to start your lab's certification journey?

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Five uplifting sustainability news stories this Earth Day https://mygreenlab.org/the-beaker-blog/five-uplifting-sustainability-news-stories-this-earth-day/ Mon, 21 Apr 2025 09:33:00 +0000 https://mygreenlab.org/?p=37956

Earth Day is a time to come together in celebration of our planet and to remind ourselves that progress is possible. Amid the many environmental challenges we face, there are also incredible stories of innovation, resilience, and meaningful change happening all around the world.

To mark this Earth Day, we’re sharing five positive sustainability news stories that show what’s going right. From clean energy milestones to public transportation wins, these stories offer a healthy dose of hope and inspiration for anyone working toward a greener future.

1. California shows clean energy can power the grid and cut fossil fuels by 40%

A recent study led by Stanford University’s Dr. Mark Jacobson and published in the journal Renewable Energy found that California met 100% of its electricity demand with renewables for up to 10 hours daily over 98 days in 2024. Compared to the same period in 2023, fossil fuel use fell by an estimated 40%, driven by increases in solar and wind power and a 105% jump in battery output. Even with more electric vehicles and appliances, statewide energy demand dropped by 1%, thanks to more homes and businesses adopting solar-plus-storage systems.

2. The Ocean Cleanup intercepts 120 truckloads of trash before reaching the Gulf of Honduras

The Ocean Cleanup, an organization that develops and scales technologies to rid the oceans of plastics, reported that on February 17th, 2025 their Interceptor 006 installed at the Las Vacas River in Guatemala removed 120 truckloads of trash before it could reach the Gulf of Honduras. Rain came into the city the evening before, bringing with it a massive trash flood. Two excavators and seven trucks helped clean the site before the trash could make its way to the ocean.

In 2024, efforts by The Ocean Cleanup amounted to the removal of 11.5 million kilos of trash from oceans and rivers, surpassing the amount of trash removed in all previous years of their work combined.

3. Vertical farming is revitalizing empty commercial real estate

With more office spaces sitting vacant due to remote and hybrid work trends, a new use is taking root: vertical farming. In Virginia, the Plenty Richmond Farm is set to produce over 4 million pounds of strawberries each year using vertical towers, AI-driven plant monitoring, and climate-controlled systems. Meanwhile, in Canada, part of Calgary Tower has been transformed into a 65,000-square-foot indoor farm growing crops like kale, cucumbers, and strawberries.

Vertical farming offers key advantages for the environment. Crops can be grown year-round, fresh food is produced closer to where people live, and the method uses significantly less water (up to 90% less than traditional agriculture). Because crops are grown in controlled environments, the need for pesticides is greatly reduced. These innovative farms not only cut food miles and water use, but also breathe new life into underused real estate, proving that even the heart of the city can grow something green.

4. France passes bill to ban PFAS in consumer products by 2026

France has become the second EU country behind Denmark to take independent action against Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), passing a bill to ban the manufacture, import, and sale of the toxic “forever chemicals” in cosmetics, clothing, footwear, and ski wax starting in 2026. The bill also introduces PFAS monitoring in drinking water and imposes a new €100 fee per 100 g of PFAS released into the environment. While the bill is not comprehensive, kitchenware was excluded due to industry pushback, it is a positive step forward.

PFAS are known to persist in the environment for decades, accumulate in living organisms, and have been linked to a range of health risks including cancer and hormone disruption. France’s move signals growing momentum in Europe to phase out these hazardous substances before broader EU regulations take effect. Final procedural steps need to take place before President Macron can sign the bill into law.

5. Good news for global public transportation

Alaina Wood, Sustainability Scientist and Climate Activist who reports under the Instagram handle @itsthegarbagequeen, shared some good news on global public transportation efforts in a recent video:

  • Morocco ordered 200 new electric trains to modernize and expand their high-speed and intercity rail network.
  • Canada is set to invest billions in public transit improvements.
  • By 2030, Thailand is on track to get their first high speed rail line that will run through Laos and China.

If you're feeling inspired this Earth Day, consider donating to My Green Lab.

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Impact Laboratories Secures $4.95M to Accelerate Sustainable Science Innovation https://mygreenlab.org/the-beaker-blog/impact-laboratories-secures-4-95m-to-accelerate-sustainable-science-innovation/ Tue, 25 Feb 2025 23:42:00 +0000 https://mygreenlab.org/?p=38254

We are proud to announce that our commercial subsidiary, Impact Laboratories, third-party verifier of My Green Lab® Certification, has secured $4.95 million in Series A funding—exceeding its target. The capital will accelerate the development of enterprise-scale sustainability tools and expand global adoption of My Green Lab Certification, empowering laboratories to achieve measurable environmental and financial impact.

James Connelly, CEO of Impact Laboratories and My Green Lab said, “This investment signals a pivotal shift in how science integrates sustainability. Our enhanced software will empower labs with real-time data, security, and ROI-driven insights—enabling them to make measurable environmental progress. Thanks to our investors’ support, we’re scaling solutions that drive global impact.”

By enhancing Impact Laboratories’ software tools, this investment will bolster its position as a leader in providing secure, data-driven solutions that deliver genuine environmental and financial returns for laboratories worldwide. Furthermore, these funds will support a robust market development strategy to expand My Green Lab Certification and improve the technology used to audit and verify the My Green Lab ACT Ecolabel, the industry’s most comprehensive ecolabel for laboratory products.

Driving impact through investment

The funding round, led by a consortium of impact-driven investors including the Spokane Angel AllianceTVF | Tacoma Venture Fund, LabX Media, and Greenhouse Capital Partners underscores the growing demand for data-driven sustainability solutions in science. These investors bring not only capital but also deep expertise in scientific research, sustainable investment, and media outreach to accelerate Impact Laboratories’ mission.

“Backing Impact Laboratories means investing in a smarter, more sustainable scientific future,” said Peter Henig, Founder and Managing Partner of Greenhouse Capital Partners.

“Sustainable science is the future of research. Impact Laboratories’ solutions give scientists the tools to integrate sustainability without sacrificing innovation,” said Jim Datin, former CEO of BioAgilytix and current GHO Operating Partner. “This investment fuels the shift toward environmentally responsible labs that also excel in efficiency and cost savings.”

Bob Kafato, President of LabX Media, emphasized the long-term impact of this investment: “As investors, we have a responsibility to support innovations that move industries forward. The scientific industry is at a turning point—labs that prioritize sustainability will not only lead in innovation but also in operational excellence. This funding ensures that environmental responsibility becomes an integral part of scientific progress.”

A global shift towards sustainable science

As scientific research expands globally, the need for secure and scalable sustainable solutions has never been greater. Impact Laboratories’ ability to provide third-party independent verification and robust sustainability tools plays a crucial role in reducing the industry’s environmental impact.

Madin Akpo-Esambe, General Partner at TVF | Tacoma Venture Fund, spoke to the broader implications of this investment: “Greener labs mean a greener world. By accelerating lab sustainability, we’re not just improving operational efficiency, but we’re also creating systemic change for the better.”

Tom Simpson, Founder and CEO of Spokane Angel Alliance, emphasized the power of regional funding networks in driving mission-based companies with global impact. “Seeing a company like Impact Laboratories scale globally from Spokane signals a new level of maturity in our start-up ecosystem and investment community,” he noted. This success highlights how regional capital can fuel ventures that create meaningful change worldwide.

Impact Laboratories and My Green Lab are collaborating to empower scientists and laboratory professionals to create lasting environmental change. This successful fundraising round will propel progress toward a future where sustainability is integrated into every laboratory around the globe.

Thank you to all our mission driven investors that supported this round!

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EPA Recommends My Green Lab Certification and ACT Ecolabel, Setting the Standard for Sustainable Science https://mygreenlab.org/the-beaker-blog/epa-recommends-my-green-lab-certification-and-act-ecolabel-setting-the-standard-for-sustainable-science/ Mon, 09 Dec 2024 18:20:00 +0000 https://mygreenlab.org/?p=37762

This recommendation reinforces the integrity and transparency of My Green Lab’s standard development process, and the high-quality and rigor of our certification and ecolabel programs.

We are thrilled to announce the recommendation of both My Green Lab Certification and the ACT Ecolabel Program into the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) Program! This mark of distinction from EPA highlights the credibility of our programs and their alignment with international best practices.

EPA’s Recommendations of Specifications, Standards, and Ecolabels help federal purchasers identify and procure environmentally preferable products and services. Federal purchasers are directed in Executive Order 14057 on Catalyzing American Clean Energy Industries and Jobs through Federal Sustainability, the Federal Sustainability Plan, and subpart 23.1 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation to procure products and services meeting the Recommendations to meet net-zero emissions and other procurement goals. Alignment with federal sustainability goals demonstrates that My Green Lab Certification and the ACT Ecolabel Program meet the highest international standards, driving meaningful progress toward reducing the environmental impact of scientific research.

“EPA’s recommendation is a powerful validation of our work at My Green Lab,” said James Connelly, CEO of My Green Lab. “This distinction affirms the integrity of our programs and their critical role in reducing the environmental impact of laboratories and laboratory products. With EPA’s support, we are one step closer to making green labs the global standard.”

Driving Global Momentum of Green Labs

This independent review by one of the world’s most recognized environmental authorities affirms that both My Green Lab’s standard development process and criteria adhere to best practices for environmental certifications.

My Green Lab Certification is considered the gold standard for laboratory sustainability best practices around the world. Supported by third-party verification from Impact Laboratories, My Green Lab Certification has engaged 3,450 labs in 50 countries reaching over 41,000 scientists. 

The ACT Ecolabel provides transparent, third-party verified data about the environmental impact of laboratory products. By offering clear information on product sustainability, the ACT Ecolabel empowers procurement teams and scientists to make informed, sustainable choices. The ACT Ecolabel database includes 3,400 labels from 40 manufacturers.

This recommendation from EPA not only reinforces the value of our programs but also reflects the growing global momentum toward sustainable practices in scientific research. As the demand for environmental best practices in laboratories continues to rise, My Green Lab is committed to driving sustainability worldwide.

Learn more about My Green Lab Certification

Certification

The Next Generation of Certification for Lab Sustainability

My Green Lab Certification

Learn more about the ACT Ecolabel and view the database

ACT ecolabel

The Only Third-Party Verified Ecolabel for Lab Products

ACT Ecolabel
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The Carbon Impact of Biotech and Pharma: Crossing the Tipping Point of Industry Transformation https://mygreenlab.org/the-beaker-blog/the-carbon-impact-of-biotech-and-pharma-crossing-the-tipping-point-of-industry-transformation/ Wed, 13 Nov 2024 21:31:00 +0000 https://mygreenlab.org/?p=37642 carbon impact of biotech and pharma

My Green Lab’s 2024 report reveals growing climate commitments from the biotech and pharma sectors while underscoring the urgency of accelerating Scope 3 emissions reductions.

Download the 2024 Report

The biotech and pharma industry plays a pivotal role in advancing global health, but as a significant contributor to climate change, its environmental footprint cannot be ignored. My Green Lab’s 2024 Carbon Impact of Biotech & Pharma Report highlights progress while calling for deeper systemic changes as the industry approaches a pivotal moment in its sustainability journey. As climate goals become more urgent, biotech and pharma companies are uniquely positioned to drive by decarbonizing their supply chains and aligning with global climate targets.

The report, produced by My Green Lab with contribution from Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), indicates that the industry has reached a tipping point — with over 25% of companies setting medium-term Scope 1 and 2 targets aligned with a 1.5°C pathway. Released during COP 29 in November 2024, the study highlights notable successes, including more companies than ever before adopting the UN Race to Zero. Additionally, a majority of companies in the campaign have made progress on the Breakthrough Outcome by adopting My Green Lab Certification, with nearly three-quarters of those programs operating on a global scale.

Despite significant progress, the report finds that long-term progress hinges on targets expanding to include Scope 3, the indirect emissions from upstream and downstream a company’s value chain. Expanding these targets to include the hard to measure and reduce Scope 3 emissions are essential to ensure alignment across the industry and supply chain to a 1.5°C trajectory

This year’s report builds on previous reports starting in 2021 which were the first to assess the entire biotech and pharma value chain by quantifying Scope 3 emissions. This year’s report, which leverages data from 638 publicly listed companies and 290 privately held companies, tracks emissions since 2015, offering the comprehensive overview of the industry’s carbon footprint and its alignment with the Paris Climate Agreement.

Key Findings and Industry Progress

Emissions Challenges and Commitments

The 2024 report highlights both significant progress and challenges in emissions reduction across the biotech and pharma sectors. Among the 149 biotech and pharma companies with high-quality emissions data, 31% have set medium-term Scope 1 and 2 targets (2026–2035) that are aligned with a 1.5°C pathway. However, to fully meet climate goals, it is critical for companies to expand these targets to include Scope 3 emissions, which cover indirect emissions throughout the value chain.

The report also reveals a concerning emissions footprint across the industry. Total emissions from public companies amounted to 259 million tCO₂e, while private companies accounted for 138 million tCO₂e, bringing the total to 397 million tCO₂e in 2023. Scope 3 emissions, which encompass indirect emissions from purchased goods and services, are a major challenge. These emissions are significantly higher than Scope 1 and 2, being 5.4 times greater for public companies and 6.5 times greater for private companies.

Industry Progress and Initiatives

The growing commitment to the UN Race to Zero Campaign is a positive indication of progress. The study found that leading companies are accelerating their sustainability commitments, with 36 companies—representing 56% of the sector’s revenue—joining the UN’s Race to Zero campaign, up from 28 companies (46% by revenue) in the previous year. The campaign’s Breakthrough Outcome target is also within reach, with 61% beginning My Green Lab Certification programs, 73% of which are operating at a global scale.

Sector Progress to Race to Zero and Breakthrough Outcome

As the report highlights, Scope 3 emissions make up 79% of indirect emissions, underscoring the critical role of supply chain innovation in achieving climate goals. In response, the industry has launched a suite of collective supply chain initiatives aimed at addressing Scope 3 emissions, which have shown significant progress over the past year. Programs such as ConvergeActivate, and Energize are driving decarbonization by engaging suppliers to adopt renewable energy, improve operational efficiency, and pursue sustainable lab practices.

chart of 2023 to 2030 Target Setting My Green Lab Supplier Initiative Converge

Why Download the 2024 Report?

The 2024 report offers a strategic guide for biotech and pharma companies to align with a 1.5°C future. It highlights key challenges, celebrates progress, and outlines actionable solutions for reducing emissions across the value chain. Whether you’re a scientist, lab manager, policymaker, or executive, this report provides essential insights to drive sustainable science.

Download the full 2024 carbon impact of biotech & pharma report today
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Groundbreaking Results: 2024 Freezer Challenge Reduces Energy Use by 31.8 Million kWh https://mygreenlab.org/the-beaker-blog/groundbreaking-results-2024-freezer-challenge-reduces-energy-use-by-31-8-million-kwh/ Mon, 26 Aug 2024 18:37:00 +0000 https://mygreenlab.org/?p=37811

The 2024 International Laboratory Freezer Challenge program has set a new benchmark in sustainability, with a record-breaking 31.8 million kWh of energy savings through the combined efforts of program participants! This translates to 22,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent avoided—an over 50% increase from last year’s challenge!

My Green Lab and the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories (I2SL) are proud to announce that in addition to these groundbreaking results, the 2024 challenge saw unprecedented participation from 3,026 labs in 35 countries. The collective efforts of participating labs translate to the energy savings equivalent of 5,296 gas-powered cars driven for one year.

The Freezer Challenge is a free competition designed to promote energy efficiency through best practices in lab cold storage management. Since its inception in 2017, the program has saved a total of 76.5 million kWh, making it a key driver of sustainable laboratory practices. This year’s remarkable growth signals a strong and accelerating commitment within the scientific community to embrace energy efficiency and sustainability, showcasing the transformative power of small, actionable changes.

“The outstanding results of the 2024 Freezer Challenge are a testament to the relentless commitment of scientists and lab professionals around the globe,” says James Connelly, CEO of My Green Lab. “The significant rise in energy savings not only highlights the growing adoption of sustainable practices but also reinforces that collective action in labs can drive substantial environmental benefits.”

 

2024 Freezer Challenge Winners

This remarkable success is owed to the hard work and dedication of scientists and lab professionals from 239 participating organizations in this year’s Freezer Challenge. With more than 35,000 cold storage units involved, significant efforts were made to implement practices that enhance energy efficiency, ensure sample accessibility, and maintain sample integrity.

While every participating lab has made valuable contributions to energy reduction, we are excited to spotlight those who excelled in the 2024 Freezer Challenge. Winners were determined based on a combination of points accumulated from sustainable practices and the overall energy savings achieved by each lab. They will be recognized at the I2SL Annual Conference on September 29th – October 2nd in St. Louis, Missouri , and featured in an upcoming Lab Manager magazine article.

Additionally, we are thrilled to host a virtual awards ceremony to honor these exceptional labs, with open invitations extended to anyone who wishes to join in the celebration. 

graph showing freezer challenge participation

List of Our 2024 Winners

Note: Winning Streak Awards are given to previous year’s winners who exceeded their energy savings from last year. 

 

Biotech/Pharmaceutical Sector Winners

  • Top Organization Award: Amgen – 7,671 kWh/day saved
  • Winning Streak Award: AstraZeneca – 7,962 kWh/day saved
  • Large Lab Award​: Boston Research – Biology, Vertex Pharmaceuticals (United States) – 438 kWh/day saved
  • Medium Lab Award: Sample Management Harrogate, Labcorp (United Kingdom) – 281 kWh/day saved
  • Small Lab Award: Gothenburg Regional HBS Centre, AstraZeneca (Sweden) – 165 kWh/day saved
  • Biorepository Award: Specimen Library, Bristol Myers Squibb (United States) – 307.15 kWh/day saved
  • Biorepository Winning Streak Award: Labcorp Biorepository, Labcorp Central Laboratory Services (United States) – 3,869 kWh/day saved

Academic Sector Winners

  • Top Organization Award: University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (United States) – 1,339 kWh/day saved
  • Lab Winning Streak Award: Dr. Elizabeth Jaffee GI Oncology Lab School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University (United States) – 154 kWh/day saved
  • Large Lab Award​: Lab + in the School of Life Sciences, Coventry University (United Kingdom) – 59 kWh/day saved
  • Medium Lab Award: Histocompatibility Laboratory, University of Michigan (United States) –80 kWh/day saved
  • Small Lab Award: Yau Lab, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (United States) – 114 kWh/day saved
  • Biorepository Award: Cell Culture Facility (ICV-3C), The Paris Brain Institute (France) – 73 kWh/day saved

 

Hospital/Clinical/Other Winners

  • Top Organization Award: Boston Children’s Hospital (United States) – 843 kWh/day saved
  • Large Lab Award​: Laboratory Medicine Group, University Hospital Padova (Italy) – 131 kWh/day saved
  • Medium Lab Award: Genetica Medica, Synlab Italia (Italy) – 51 kWh/day saved
  • Small Lab Award: Scientific Research and Innovation Services Laboratory, Synnovis (United Kingdom) – 79 kWh/day saved
  • Biorepository Award: IQVIA Biorepository, Q2 Solutions (United States) – 845 kWh/day saved

 

Government Sector Winners

  • Top Organization Award:​ Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (Panama) – 159 kWh/day saved
  • Winning Streak Award: National Institutes of Health (United States) – 3,074 kWh/day saved
  • Large Lab Award​: Drug Safety Testing Center, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (Hong Kong) – 41 kWh/day saved
  • Medium Lab Award: Central Laboratory, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (United States) – 44 kWh/day saved 
  • Small Lab Award: Trink und Abwasserlabor, Hamburg Water (Germany) – 25 kWh/day saved
  • Biorepository Award: Center for Cancer Research, Office of the Director of the National Institutes of Health (United States) – 442 kWh/day saved

 

Honorable Mentions

Organizations (all sectors):

  • University of Michigan
  • Leiden University Medical Center
  • SYNLAB Group
  • Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
  • The University of Alabama at Birmingham
  • Sanofi
  • Labcorp
  • Evotec

  Labs (all sectors, all lab sizes):

  •  Johnson & Johnson, Oncology Spring House
  • Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Hepa-Gastro
  • Evotec, Hamburg, Sample Management Lab
  • IFF (International Flavors & Fragrances) Madison Process R&D Lab
  • Labcorp, Mechelen Biorepository
  • Precision for Medicine, NHLBI
  • University of British Columbia, UBC BioBank
  • AstraZeneca South San Francisco (SSF) Biobank

Register for the Freezer Challenge Virtual Awards Ceremony

Awards

The awards recording are now available on demand for free!

Register to Access the Recording
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My Green Lab Launches New Subsidiary for Enhanced Certification Impact https://mygreenlab.org/the-beaker-blog/my-green-lab-launches-new-subsidiary-for-enhanced-certification-impact/ Wed, 27 Mar 2024 17:39:00 +0000 https://mygreenlab.org/?p=38042

My Green Lab is proud to announce the launch of our new commercial subsidiary, Impact Laboratories.

Impact Laboratories will advance My Green Lab’s certification program through third-party verification. Our two organizations will work together to accelerate progress on our shared mission of building a global culture of sustainability in science.

My Green Lab CEO, James Connelly, says, “This is a pivotal moment in the continued growth and evolution of My Green Lab. The introduction of third-party verification ensures our certification adopts international best practice and provides verified impact, giving scientists and organizations yet another reason to embrace the world’s most trusted green lab certification.”

“As we scale our efforts around the world, it’s vital that we constantly seek ways to better support our community, measure our impact, and ensure the continued integrity of our programs. Introducing third-party verification will help the entire scientific community by accelerating the journey to lab sustainability at a global scale,” continues Connelly.

Impact Laboratories will help deliver more resources, enterprise scale software tools and funding to help My Green Lab better support its many vital programs and build an even more successful community-driven movement. The increased support will include more in-depth research, resources, community building and educational events, and more substantial discounting for academic labs through an organization subscription model.

The programs, tools and education services supported by My Green Lab include:


“My Green Lab Certification is a key way in which we are accelerating emissions reduction in healthcare R&D and instilling a culture of sustainability at AstraZeneca. We are encouraged to see My Green Lab raise the bar yet again and align with international best practice by providing third-party verification to enhance the rigor of this powerful certification platform.”

— Penny James, COO Biopharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, and My Green Lab Board Member


“Quality, integrity, and community are at the heart of My Green Lab’s mission. We are constantly working to strengthen our programs and enhance our impact. Third-party verification is the next step that helps drive action and impact in one of the industry’s most challenging arenas: labs and lab supply chains.”

— Jeffrey Whitford, Vice President, Sustainability and Social Business Innovation, MilliporeSigma, the US and Canada Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and My Green Lab Board Member


“My Green Lab is helping to transform the entire academic scientific community through their programs and tools, and third-party certification is an important next step to ensure impact. We have certified over 200 labs at UAB and we are excited to take advantage of the new resources and tools that Impact Laboratories will be providing the academic community.”

— Nick Ciancio, Sustainability Coordinator, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and My Green Lab Certification Steering Committee member


Learn more about Impact Laboratories and browse FAQs about the new subsidiary here.

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My Green Lab Unveils Converge, a Collaborative Supply Chain Initiative Bringing Sustainability to the Forefront of the Pharmaceutical Industry https://mygreenlab.org/the-beaker-blog/my-green-lab-unveils-converge-a-collaborative-supply-chain-initiative-bringing-sustainability-to-the-forefront-of-the-pharmaceutical-industry/ Tue, 05 Dec 2023 20:42:00 +0000 https://mygreenlab.org/?p=38106

Founding Sponsors AstraZeneca, GSK, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Amgen Join Forces with My Green Lab to Drive Sustainable Practices Across the Industry

My Green Lab, the world’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the sustainability of scientific research, today announces the launch of Converge, a collaborative supply chain initiative. With a shared goal of supporting lab sustainability, founding sponsors of the initiative include AstraZeneca, GSK, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Amgen.

Pharmaceutical companies rely on their suppliers to provide goods and services and represent Scope 3 carbon emissions in their value chain. Supplier engagement with Contract Research Organizations (CROs), Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMOs), and Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations (CDMOs) is important to address Scope 3 carbon emissions. Converge will leverage the collective and collaborative efforts of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to encourage suppliers with a large research footprint to reduce the environmental impact of their labs through My Green Lab Certification, a key indicator of progress for the United Nations Climate Change’s High-Level Climate Champions 2030 Breakthroughs Race to Zero campaign.

Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies with ten or more labs already enrolled in My Green Lab Certification are encouraged to sign up and join a collective initiation aiming to certify all labs across the value chain in alignment with the Race to Zero’s breakthrough outcome that 95% of all labs are My Green Lab certified at the highest level by 2030.

Through Converge, suppliers will be provided with additional resources and peer-to-peer learning that will support increased scientist awareness and engagement in sustainability measures, alongside cost reductions through lowered energy, water, and waste supported by additional resources and peer-to-peer learning. The program’s partners gain secure access to a Supplier Dashboard for tracking green lab certification progress, and an Impact Estimator tool for measuring environmental reductions. The initiative also offers its participants educational webinars and a Supplier Network Group for peer-learning facilitated by My Green Lab.

“Suppliers play a vital role in the industry and based on our 2022 Carbon Impact Report, the majority of the impact comes from the value chain. When suppliers partner with My Green Lab through Converge and earn My Green Lab Certifications, they are not only actively supporting lab sustainability, but also solidifying their position as a trusted and preferred organization in the industry,” says James Connelly, My Green Lab’s CEO.


About My Green Lab Certification

My Green Lab Certification provides actionable ways for scientists and laboratory teams to make meaningful changes within their daily operations. It is considered the gold standard for laboratory sustainability best practices around the world and has helped over 2,000 labs in 45 countries and over 26,000 scientists preserve resources, save money, and ensure a safe and healthy environment in support of science.

About Converge

Converge envisions a comprehensive dedication to lab sustainability throughout the pharmaceutical industry. Converge aims to ensure every supplier lab has a thriving culture of sustainability and every scientist knows how their actions can make a difference. Converge will help the pharmaceutical sector lead the world on supply chain engagement and inspire other sectors to follow in its footsteps.

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2023 Carbon Impact of Biotech & Pharma Report: Collective Action Accelerating Progress to the UN Race to Zero https://mygreenlab.org/the-beaker-blog/2023-carbon-impact-of-biotech-pharma-report-collective-action-accelerating-progress-to-the-un-race-to-zero/ Mon, 04 Dec 2023 17:25:00 +0000 https://mygreenlab.org/?p=37537

The Biotech and Pharma industry is a significant contributor to global climate change, and therefore must be part of the global climate solution. The global biotechnology market size was estimated at USD $1.0 trillion in 2021 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.9% from 2022 to 2030, reaching $3.9 trillion by 2030.

A report produced by My Green Lab with contribution from Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) found significant progress towards the adoption of net-zero goals within the Biotech and Pharma sector, with more companies joining the UN-backed Race to Zero initiative, and some notable successes in the largest companies making year-on-year intensity reductions. The report was released during COP28 on Dec 5, 2023, and showed that the pace of accomplishments, while substantial, must be greatly accelerated for the industry to remain below the 1.5˚C threshold that the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns our planet should not cross.

As of 2023, thirty-five companies (53% of the sector by revenue) have committed to the Race to Zero initiative, an increase from 30 companies (46% by revenue) at this time last year. Progress towards the Breakthrough Outcome has also been swift, with 63% of Pharma and Med Tech companies in the campaign having started a My Green Lab Certification, and nearly half of those programs at a global scale.

Key Findings of the Report

The report is an update to My Green Lab’s 2021 & 2022 reports, which was the first to evaluate the upstream and downstream value chain of Biotech and Pharma by quantifying Scope 3 emissions for both public and private companies. The report leverages data from 226 publicly-listed companies and 147 privately-held companies to produce a comprehensive profile of the carbon emissions of the Biotech and Pharma industry, including a comparison of this emissions profile to other industry sectors. The analysis also identifies critical hotspots that are opportunities for positive change while charting industry progress towards the UNFCCC Race to Zero and the UNFCCC 2030 Breakthrough Outcomes campaign.

One of the results of the report is that 90% of the 91 public companies analyzed in the sector still do not have targets (for Scope 1 and 2) in the short term (2021–2025) that are aligned with a 1.5˚C increase world. It also found that the overall carbon impact of the industry has been rising every year, going from 3.9% in 2021 to 5% in 2022. Another key finding of the report is that Scope 3 emissions are 4.6-fold Scope 1 and 2 combined, with the vast majority of Scope 3 emissions coming from purchased goods and services. In response, the industry has launched a suite of collective initiatives that show great promise in reducing Scope 3.

Collaborative Efforts and Industry Alliances

In 2021, My Green Lab’s flagship program, the My Green Lab Certification was selected as a Race to Zero Breakthrough Outcome to help pharmaceutical and medical tech companies achieve the goal of a zero-carbon world by 2050. It focuses on reducing emissions for Scope 1 and 2 by making laboratory operations more sustainable. It further helps catalyze Scope 3 reductions by encouraging sustainable purchasing within organizations and with laboratories that a company contracts within its supply chain.

To meet the targets of the Paris Climate Agreement, the industry must continue to improve the quality and comparability of reporting, while taking rapid and measurable actions on industry carbon footprints and engaging the industry supply chain. Harmonization of supplier requirements by the Sustainable Markets Initiative and forums such as the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Initiative are helping to create industry alignment. To tackle the challenge of addressing Scope 3, the industry has launched a suite of programs to align requests and help support suppliers in accomplishing these supply chain goals. An example of such an initiative is My Green Lab’s Converge program, which is expected to have a powerful impact on suppliers with great potential for rapid and effective action.

 

Download the 2023 Report

2023 Carbon Impact

2023 Carbon Impact of Biotech & Pharma

Download the 2023 Carbon Impact Report

Biotech and Pharma’s Carbon Impact: Insights From My Green Lab

Media Read Media Interview

Converge, My Green Lab’s Supplier Initiative

Converge is a My Green Lab initiative that aims to harness the collective power of the Pharmaceutical industry to encourage suppliers to reduce the impact of their operational labs through My Green Lab Certification. The program enrolls large Pharma companies that have at least 10 labs enrolled in My Green Lab Certification and requires them to collectively request that suppliers including Contract Research Organizations (CROs), Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMOs), and Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations (CDMOs) with significant laboratory operations certify their labs in alignment with the 2030 Breakthrough Outcomes target. The target is for 95% of all labs to be certified at the highest level. In November 2023, four major Pharma companies, AstraZeneca, GSK, Amgen, and Bristol Myers Squib joined the Converge initiative. They outlined the targets seen in the following figure for their joint suppliers.

Conclusion

Biotech and pharmaceutical companies have the technical acumen, culture of innovation,
and financial resources needed to be a global leader in environmental sustainability. They
also have a shared supply chain and collaborative industry organizations necessary to align requirements and support collective action. The industry has just under a decade, roughly the same time it takes to bring a new drug to market, to achieve net zero carbon and, in doing so, inspire industry sectors around the world.

My Green Lab's Supplier Initiative

converge Learn About Converge
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My Green Lab Renews Partnership with the United Nations High-Level Climate Champions to Accelerate Healthcare Sector’s Carbon Reduction and Resilience Efforts https://mygreenlab.org/the-beaker-blog/my-green-lab-renews-partnership-with-the-united-nations-high-level-climate-champions-to-accelerate-healthcare-sectors-carbon-reduction-and-resilience-efforts/ Thu, 17 Aug 2023 17:57:00 +0000 https://mygreenlab.org/?p=38070

My Green Lab is proud to announce our renewed partnership with the United Nations High-Level Climate Champions. Supporting the United Nations’ Race to Zero Campaign, which aims to halve global carbon emissions by 2030, this renewed collaboration will empower more organizations than ever to achieve their carbon commitments through My Green Lab’s programs and research.

Building on the success of the current partnership in advancing the biotech and pharma industry’s commitments, the renewed partnership will more broadly address the healthcare value chain. My Green Lab’s VP of Investments and Partnerships, Ryan Arnold, has been appointed the Health Sector Lead at the High-Level Climate Champions. “Biotech and pharma play a huge role within the sector, but there are more opportunities across the healthcare value chain where My Green Lab’s tools can help drive systemic change,” says Arnold.

My Green Lab Certification was selected as a Race to Zero Breakthrough Outcome in 2021, establishing a target that 95% of labs in biotech and pharma achieve Certification at the highest level by 2030. Over 2,000 labs and 24,000 scientists from 45 countries have engaged with the program, including 35 of the largest biotech and pharma companies. Currently, 71% of companies in the sector with over $1 billion in revenue that have joined the Race to Zero are working on a My Green Lab Certification. The rapidly growing program is recognized as the gold standard for laboratory sustainability best practices worldwide.

In addition to ensuring the adoption of My Green Lab Certification in laboratories, the renewed partnership will build upon My Green Lab’s groundbreaking report on the carbon impact of biotech and pharma that tracks the industry’s progress to net zero carbon.

“With only seven years until 2030, we must urgently accelerate the decarbonization of all parts of the economy. My Green Lab has been our key partner since 2022 to align the pharma and biotech sector with the goals of the Paris Agreement. This year, we’re thrilled to expand our partnership to the whole health sector and focus on both decarbonization and resilience in the frame of the 2030 Breakthroughs and the Sharm El Sheikh Adaptation Agenda, with expected highlights at COP28,” says Emmanuelle Pinault, Director of Systems Transformation, High-Level Climate Champions.

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Top 10 My Green Lab ‘Breakthroughs’ in 2022 https://mygreenlab.org/the-beaker-blog/top-10-my-green-lab-breakthroughs-in-2022/ Mon, 19 Dec 2022 21:55:00 +0000 https://mygreenlab.org/?p=37654

2022 has been an incredible year of progress and growth for My Green Lab and the global green lab community. From breaking new program milestones to hosting and attending powerful and inspiring events, our team and the green lab community continue to grow and advance our shared mission of building a global culture of sustainability in science around the world. Recognizing that we have much farther to go, the end of the year is a great time to take a step back and reflect on how far we have come in one short year. Thank you to all the My Green Lab Community and our stakeholders, forward-thinking sponsors, partners, and collaborators for helping make our vision a reality: that all science is conducted in a way that benefits the health and wellbeing of the planet.

Top 10 Breakthroughs from 2022

1) At the time of writing, over 1,300 labs have engaged with our flagship My Green Lab Certification program from over 220 institutions in over 40 countries. Labs from organizations large and small from industry and academia continue to join the program. The impact of this program continues to scale around the globe.

black and white world map with trendline

​2) My Green Lab extended its partnership with the UN High Level Climate Champions and released an updated version of our Carbon Impact of Biotech and Pharma report at COP 27. Among the findings are that the largest companies by revenue are beginning to reduce emissions year on year, and nearly 46% of the medtech and pharmaceutical sector has committed to the global Race to Zero, one of the highest commitment percentages of any industry sector. Further, the industry has made rapid progress on the breakthrough outcome goal of 95% of labs certified at the highest level by 2030 ­–53% of companies have now joined the Race to Zero with 25% at a global scale.

graph with 2021 and 2022 data

3) As our programs grow, they also need to continue to evolve to represent the state of best practice in the industry. To develop the next version of the My Green Lab Certification, we have assembled an incredibly talented group of green lab leaders around the world to begin a revision and update process of the My Green Lab Certification.

steering committee for my green lab company

4) You can’t have green labs without green lab products. This year, we were thrilled to see the expansion of the ACT Label Program which grew to 2,500 labels from 17 companies live on the database, with many more in the pipeline. My Green Lab currently has an additional 24 companies in the ACT Label pipeline with many new product categories under review, for a total of 3,300 labels.

James Connelly, My Green Lab CEO presenting on a program

5) All of our work would not be possible without the support of forward thinking and innovative Sponsors. My Green Lab now has over 40 Sponsors that are true partners in driving forward our mission. We are also very excited to announce our first Angel level sponsor, Agilent Technologies.

“Sustainability and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards are central to our mission to advance the quality of life, and our sponsorship of My Green Lab helps us to drive this forward,” said Darlene Solomon, senior vice president, and chief technology officer at Agilent. “Being an ‘Angel’ level sponsor will further cultivate our knowledge of creating sustainable green labs, which we can share with our customers globally and support them on their sustainability journey.”

My Green Lab sponsors

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My Green Lab Summit 2022 graphic

7) The Green Lab movement is now touching nearly every corner of the Globe. This year our My Green Lab Ambassador program surpassed 3,000 ambassadors in 59 countries.

World map with My Green Lab Ambassador trendline

8) None of this would be possible with the support and partnership of the incredible team we’ve assembled at My Green Lab. As the movement has grown, so has our team. We have gone from 8 to 16 full time team members, adding positions on the programs team, marketing, and business development in 2022.

My Green Lab team 2022

​9) Our passionate team had the great opportunity to gather in San Diego for our annual retreat. As a team, we reflected on our goals and set forth a new strategic vision for the next year of the organization. We agreed to focus on impact and collaboration with our community, and committed to working together as a high-performance team. We also had a lot of fun!

My Green Lab team photo 2022

10) Ultimately, achieving our long-term vision will require not only a powerful movement, but a systemic shift in how research is funded and researchers are incentivized. That is why My Green Lab, in partnership with the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories (I2SL), launched the Million Advocates for Sustainable Science, a global grass roots campaign to inspire funders to embed sustainability in scientific research. Sign the letter now to help us build a future of sustainable science.

Thank you to our community, our sponsors, and everyone who has helped champion the growth of sustainability in science. We celebrate the great progress we’ve made in 2022, and look forward to the continued work we will collectively achieve in building a global culture of sustainability in 2023.

In gratitude,
James Connelly
Chief Executive Officer, My Green Lab

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Study Find Rapid Progress in Biotech & Pharma Companies Committing to UN Race to Zero through My Green Lab Certification Program https://mygreenlab.org/the-beaker-blog/study-find-rapid-progress-in-biotech-pharma-companies-committing-to-un-race-to-zero-through-my-green-lab-certification-program/ Thu, 10 Nov 2022 23:25:00 +0000 https://mygreenlab.org/?p=38656 View the updated 2023 report Carbon Impact Report my green lab

A study by My Green Lab in partnership ICE (which acquired Urgentem) found that more companies than ever in the biotech and pharma industry are adopting zero carbon goals and joining the UN Race to Zero. The study, released at the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP27, on November 10th, 2022, shows that 46% of the sector by revenue has committed to the Race to Zero, up from 31% at this time last year. Progress towards the 2030 Breakthrough Outcome, a key measure of progress towards a zero carbon future, has also been swift, with over 53% of companies in the campaign starting a My Green Lab Certification, 23% at a global scale.

About the Study

The report is an update to My Green Lab’s 2021 report, which quantified Scope 1 and 2 as well as Scope 3 emissions across the industry’s entire value chain. The updated report tracks the industry’s progress since 2015 and evaluates alignment with achieving the Paris Climate Agreement. It leverages data from 231 publicly listed companies and 151 privately held companies and compares that profile to other industry sectors.

While the positive trend in commitment to science-based targets is encouraging, the study also highlights the industry’s need for more ambitious targets and increased action. Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are significant contributors to climate change, with higher emissions than the forestry and paper industry, widely regarded as one of the most carbon-intensive industries.

The study revealed that 91% of biotech and pharma companies do not have carbon reduction targets aligned with aligned with a 1.5˚C warming scenario, the emission targets that the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (UNFCCC) estimates will avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

Also revealed in the study is the total carbon impact of public companies in the industry sector, which increased 15% to 227 million tCO2-e, or metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. Adding in private companies increases the total another 15%, with the total carbon impact of the industry equaling 260 million tCO2-e.

“While it is encouraging to see the leading companies in the biotech and pharma industry starting to drive year on year reductions – we need to get the entire industry engaged, and we need to rapidly scale up our efforts if the industry is going to be part of the climate solution,” says James Connelly, CEO of My Green Lab. “We need every company in the industry to join the Race to Zero campaign and take rapid, measurable actions to drive down emissions. While progress towards the Breakthrough Outcome goal of 95% of labs achieving My Green Lab Certification is encouraging and a key leading indicator of transformation, we need to move faster,” Connelly continues.

Although the fast-growing global biotech and pharmaceutical industry is a significant contributor to climate change, the industry’s largest companies are demonstrating leadership in emissions reductions. Highlighted in the report is the industry’s move to implement green lab programs, which provide a roadmap of practical opportunities for companies, scientists, and their suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of laboratories.

“Pharmaceutical companies have a pivotal role to play in decarbonizing healthcare. We’re proud to be partnering with My Green Lab, the global standard for laboratory sustainability, to accelerate climate action across our organization,” says Juliette White, Vice-President, Global Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) and Sustainability, AstraZeneca. “Through our science-based Ambition Zero Carbon targets, we are on track to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from our global operations and fleet by 98% by 2026 and have already achieved My Green Lab Certification in over 68 labs worldwide, engaging with over 1,700 scientists,” White continues.

My Green Lab Certification focuses on reducing emissions for Scope 1 and 2 by making laboratory operations more sustainable. It further helps catalyze Scope 3 reductions by encouraging sustainable purchasing within organizations and with laboratories that a company contracts within its supply chain. It was selected as a Race to Zero Breakthrough Outcome to help pharmaceutical and medical tech companies achieve the goal of a zero-carbon world by 2050.

Watch COP27 event recording
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