Across Europe, the drive to make science more sustainable is accelerating, fueled by European Union (EU) climate goals, evolving Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks, and the urgent need for measurable impact. My Green Lab is proud to be an active partner in supporting laboratories throughout Europe with proven, science-based sustainability programmes tailored to the European context.

With a nine-member team based in Europe, My Green Lab is uniquely positioned to help organisations align with EU regulations, meet sustainability commitments, and implement operational changes that deliver lasting results. This local presence is strengthened by Impact Laboratories, My Green Lab’s subsidiary that advances the My Green Lab Certification programme through independent, third-party verification, ensuring the highest level of credibility and trust.

Together, the team combines deep regional knowledge with My Green Lab’s global leadership to deliver programmes that are both regionally relevant and internationally recognized. This creates a critical advantage for organisations operating across Europe’s diverse regulatory landscape.

A Science-Based Approach Aligned with European Goals

Laboratories are notoriously resource-intensive environments, consuming substantial amounts of energy and generating vast volumes of waste and water use. My Green Lab’s programmes deliver solutions grounded in measurable sustainability that directly address these challenges.

“Our programmes are designed to support the EU’s climate-neutrality goal for 2050 by promoting measurable reductions in energy, water, and material use within laboratory environments,” said Jack O’Grady, Director of Certifications. “My Green Lab Certification offers a structured, science-based approach to carbon reduction that aligns with EU carbon accounting frameworks and the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi).”

As European organisations are increasingly integrating ESG metrics into their operations, My Green Lab programmes provide the standardized, credible sustainability indicators they need. In addition to My Green Lab Certification, My Green Lab’s ACT EcoLabel enhances transparency in procurement and daily operations, supporting responsible resource use and supply chain accountability.

Both programmes align with international standards such as ISO 14001 for Environmental Management Systems, helping laboratories and institutions integrate sustainability into core business practices while meeting regulatory requirements.

Meeting Europe’s Unique Sustainability Challenges

Europe’s laboratory landscape presents distinct challenges. A patchwork of national sustainability frameworks and standards creates complexity for multinational organisations seeking consistent practices across borders. My Green Lab offers a unifying framework to standardize sustainability throughout the EU. Regardless of location or directives differing from one country to the next, My Green Lab Certification and the ACT Ecolabel are well positioned to support and allow for a unifying comparison of performance and improvement in sustainable practices.

Energy efficiency is another pressing priority. Since the 2022 energy market disruptions, Europe has faced some of the highest energy prices in the world. My Green Lab programmes help laboratories identify inefficiencies and implement targeted strategies, such as optimizing fume hood use and managing ultra-low temperature freezers. “These interventions not only lower environmental impact but also provide clear data on potential return on investment,” continues O’Grady.

Supporting Accessibility and Community Growth

To ensure broader engagement across the continent, My Green Lab offers its programmes in multiple languages. Universities and research institutes in countries like Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, and across Scandinavia are leading the way in sustainable laboratory practices.

“As a nonprofit, My Green Lab actively supports the development of national Green Lab Networks, such as Green Labs Denmark and Green Labs NL, fostering collaboration, peer learning, and a growing community of sustainability champions. These collective efforts are central to advancing My Green Lab’s mission of creating a global culture of sustainability in science,” said O’Grady.

My Green Lab Certification: A Comprehensive Tool for Compliance and Impact

My Green Lab Certification, one of its flagship programmes, addresses 14 environmental impact areas, including energy, water, waste, chemical use, procurement, and lab culture. The programme promotes green chemistry and sustainable procurement, aligning with EU directives to reduce hazardous substances and foster environmentally responsible innovation.

“A core strength of the certification lies in its focus on staff education and behavior change, essential components for building a lasting, sustainable lab culture and achieving long-term institutional environmental goals,” said O’Grady. “Labs benefit from access to data-driven benchmarks and tools that enable them to monitor and improve their sustainability performance over time.”

The certification provides globally recognized, independently verified documentation of laboratory environmental performance. This credible evidence proves valuable for external audits, funding applications, and collaborative projects, and positions institutions to excel in ESG reporting under the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

“For labs seeking both operational improvement and strategic alignment with EU policy, My Green Lab Certification offers a comprehensive, impactful pathway,” continues O’Grady.

Proven Impact in Europe

My Green Lab’s European impact began in 2019 when the CÚRAM Institute at the University of Galway in Ireland became the first in the region to certify its laboratories under the leadership of Professor Úna Fitzgerald. This milestone inspired other European institutions to follow suit, showcasing the necessity and importance of laboratory sustainability efforts.

Today, 1,589 laboratories in 22 European countries are enrolled in My Green Lab Certification, representing nearly 40% of global participation (as of September 2025). These laboratories span sectors including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medtech, academia, and healthcare.

The ACT Ecolabel database includes 542 products from manufacturers based across 12 European countries (as of September 2025).

The European Ambassador network is equally as strong. “The uptake and enrollment in My Green Lab programmes is supported by the wonderful European community of My Green Lab Ambassadors. Currently, European Ambassadors make up over 50% of the total number of My Green Lab Ambassadors (8,887),” notes O’Grady. The Ambassador Programme is a free, online course for lab professionals to learn sustainable practices, earn certification, and join a global community of change makers.

Why European Organisations Should Act Now

With EU sustainability legislation tightening, the case for verified, measurable environmental action in science has never been stronger. The EU Empowering Consumers Directive, formally known as the Directive (EU) 2024/825 on empowering consumers for the green transition, adopted in 2024, will require organisations to substantiate environmental claims and ensure product transparency by 2026.

“Both of our flagship programmes, My Green Lab Certification and the ACT EcoLabel, ensure that all requirements from the Empowering Consumers Directive are fully met, helping said organisations achieve compliance while demonstrating genuine environmental leadership,” said O’Grady.

By adopting My Green Lab Certification and the ACT EcoLabel, organisations can demonstrate ESG leadership, build stakeholder trust, and ensure compliance, while also reducing costs and environmental impact.

The Team Behind the Mission

The strength of My Green Lab’s European work stems from its dedicated, regionally based team of nine professionals:

• Jack O’Grady, Director of Certifications, Limerick, Ireland
• Raj Patey, Business Development Director, Daventry, United Kingdom
• Dulan Liyanage, Market Development Representative, Dublin, Ireland
• Lena Thomas, Market Development Representative, Dortmund, Germany
• Pernilla Sormë, Senior Director of Research and Technical Standards, Isle of South Uist, United Kingdom
• Charlotte Criscuolo, Sustainability Certifications Coordinator, Manchester, United Kingdom
• Caroline O’Donnell, Sustainability Certifications Coordinator, Donegal, Ireland
• Aaron Desmond, Market Development Representative, London, United Kingdom
• Carlo Battisti, European Stakeholder Engagement, Bolzano, Trentino-South Tyrol, Italy

My Green Lab’s European Team. From left to right: Caroline O’Donnell, Dulan Liyanage, Charlotte Criscuolo, Raj Patey, Jack O’Grady, Pernilla Sormë, Aaron Desmond. Not pictured: Carlo Battisti and Lena Thomas

This regionally distributed team combines deep knowledge of European regulatory landscapes with My Green Lab’s global expertise, ensuring programmes not only meet EU environmental goals but help organisations advance their climate commitments.

“Our team is here on the ground, supporting labs in their own languages, cultures, and regulatory environments,” said O’Grady. “Our approach is about harmonizing sustainability standards across Europe while respecting the unique frameworks and challenges each country faces.”

Ready to Lead Laboratory Sustainability in Europe?

Join the 1,589 European laboratories already certified with My Green Lab and position your organisation at the forefront of sustainable science. Whether you’re seeking regulatory compliance, ESG leadership, or operational efficiency, our European team is ready to support your sustainability journey.

Take the next step:

• Contact our European team for a My Green Lab Certification consultation tailored to your regulatory environment.
• Get in touch with the European ACT Ecolabel team here.
• Want to learn more? Explore our certification programmes and join our Ambassador community.

Greenwashing isn’t just bad for the planet; it has become a major financial and reputational threat. In today’s climate-conscious economy, companies are facing increasing, and often warranted, scrutiny from regulators, consumers, and investors. Misleading or exaggerated environmental claims are no longer seen as simple marketing missteps but are now treated as legal violations that can result in multimillion-dollar fines and permanent damage to brand credibility. As regulations tighten and public expectations grow, the true cost of unsubstantiated green claims is mounting in both courtrooms, boardrooms, and the bottom lines.

Transparency in sustainability efforts is becoming increasingly vital as the consequences of greenwashing continue to escalate. In response, organizations are turning to third-party verification to strengthen the credibility of their environmental claims. Programs like My Green Lab Certification and the ACT Ecolabel support this movement by providing structured, science-based frameworks for assessing and improving sustainability performance.

What Is Greenwashing and Why Is It Risky?

Greenwashing refers to the practice of misleading consumers or stakeholders about the environmental benefits of a product, service, or organization. Whether it involves overstating the recyclability of packaging or promoting unverified emissions reductions, the goal is often to appear more sustainable than the facts support.

This type of messaging undermines both scientific integrity and consumer trust. Today, the public expects more than vague green language. People want real, measurable action from the brands and institutions they support.

As market pressure grows to meet environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals, some organizations may overstate progress in an attempt to stay competitive. What might once have been dismissed as optimistic marketing is now being treated by regulators as a serious violation of consumer protection laws. The consequences can include significant financial penalties and long-term damage to credibility.

The Real-World Cost of Waiting: High-Profile Enforcement Examples

Recent enforcement cases highlight the real risks for companies across industries as greenwashing becomes much more than a hypothetical concern.

In Germany, Deutsche Bank’s investment arm, DWS, was fined $27 million in 2025 for overstating its ESG credentials. Regulators determined that the company’s claims did not reflect its actual practices. This case is a clear example of how even large, well-resourced institutions are not immune from accountability.

Another example of consequences related to greenwashing involves Coca-Cola, which agreed to revise bottle labels after the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) raised concerns about potentially misleading language. Phrases such as “100% recycled” and “recyclable” were challenged as unclear or inaccurate. Even though this case did not result in financial penalties, it underscores how public and legal scrutiny is growing around environmental messaging. For brands, it’s a reminder that misleading claims, even if well-intentioned, can damage trust and require costly rebranding or legal defense.

Clorox Australia was fined AUD $8.25 million for making false environmental claims about its GLAD-branded kitchen products. The company advertised its bin liners as being made from “50% ocean plastic,” when in reality, the plastic had been collected from inland areas near waterways, not the ocean. This marked one of the most significant penalties for greenwashing in the country and reinforced the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) focus on environmental marketing compliance.

The pattern is clear: the cost of unsubstantiated or misleading environmental claims is rising rapidly, while the cost of third-party verification represents a fraction of potential penalties.

Regulatory Landscape: The Tide Is Turning

As these examples demonstrate, governments around the world are introducing stricter oversight of environmental claims. In Canada, significant amendments to the Competition Act took effect in June 2024, explicitly targeting greenwashing by requiring companies to substantiate environmental claims with “adequate and proper” testing or “internationally recognized methodology,” shifting the burden of proof onto advertisers. The Competition Bureau has since issued comprehensive guidelines clarifying expectations under these new provisions.

France has also strengthened its regulatory position. The Anti-Waste and Circular Economy Law (Loi AGEC) prohibits misleading sustainability claims, bans vague terms like “biodegradable” on packaging, and promotes transparency through mandatory product labeling.

Brazil also addresses greenwashing through its Consumer Protection Code, which prohibits misleading advertising, while self-regulatory oversight by the National Council for Self-Regulation in Advertising (CONAR) enforces penalties and removal of environmentally misleading ads.

These changes reflect a growing global trend of legal frameworks evolving to demand greater accountability and accuracy. Companies everywhere are being put on notice that sustainability messaging must be backed by verifiable evidence.

The Hidden Cost of Inaction: Reputational Risk

Regulatory fines are costly, but reputational damage from greenwashing can be even more significant. Research published in Emerald Insight shows that greenwashing damages consumer trust and corporate reputation, ultimately affecting customer loyalty, investor confidence, and employee retention. Once public trust is lost, it can take years, and substantial investment, to rebuild.

Calculating the ROI of Sustainability

While some companies may hesitate to invest in verified sustainability, the return on investment is clear, especially when compared to the exponentially higher risk of doing nothing.

Consider the math: the average regulatory fine for greenwashing violations is 4% of global revenue, and in some cases, up to 10%, in addition to the potential loss of consumer trust, investor hesitation, and long-term brand damage.

In contrast, growing evidence highlights how companies that invest in sustainability often see improved operational efficiency, risk mitigation, and access to capital, as recently discussed in The Wall Street Journal and the Harvard Business Review. Additionally, NYU’s Stern Center for Sustainable Business offers the ROSI (Return on Sustainability Investment) framework, which links sustainability strategies to measurable financial performance by mapping intangible benefits, like innovation, employee engagement, and customer loyalty, to economic outcomes.

Other estimates highlight the macroeconomic cost of inaction: according to Sphera, climate inaction could result in an 18% loss of global GDP by 2050. On the company level, sustainability investments consistently outperform over time. These returns are realized not only in energy, water, and cost savings, but in increased resilience, stronger stakeholder relationships, and higher employee retention.
In today’s climate, the cost of doing nothing may be the most expensive decision of all.

Transparency Is a Smart Investment

The return on investment from a verified sustainability program often pays for itself within the first year through operational improvements alone:

Through My Green Lab Certification, AstraZeneca reduced energy use by more than 1.2 million kilowatt-hours, cut 900 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, and is saving over $300,000 annually.
At the University of Alabama at Birmingham, labs saved an average of 35,000 kilowatt-hours per year, cutting over 34,000 kg of waste, the equivalent of powering 75 U.S. homes.

In Germany, the Technical University of Berlin lowered its energy use by 35% and saved nearly €15,000 each year, delivering a 30x ROI.

These results demonstrate that sustainability is not just good for the planet, it’s a practical and profitable strategy that quickly justifies its initial investment.
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Here’s how third-party verification directly eliminates regulatory risk: My Green Lab Certification and the ACT Ecolabel provide the science backing and transparency that regulators now demand. Instead of making claims you can’t substantiate, these programs give you verifiable data and credible credentials that protect you against legal challenges. When regulators ask for proof, you have it. When competitors make questionable claims, your third-party verifications set you apart. Both programs are recommended by credible institutions like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and offer assurance to organizations and protection against misleading claims.

Building a Culture of Verified Impact

For organizations concerned about upfront costs, the critical question isn’t whether you can afford third-party verification, it’s whether you can afford not to invest in it. What’s the cost of inaction? As the above examples illustrate, it can be substantial. The financial and reputational costs of misleading environmental claims far exceed the investment in credible sustainability programs.

A credible sustainability strategy protects against fines, supports stakeholder trust, and drives measurable improvements in efficiency. Most importantly, verified programs typically generate cost savings that offset initial investments within months, not years. A transparent sustainability strategy isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s a smart business move.

By embracing verified programs like My Green Lab Certification and the ACT Ecolabel, businesses can lead with integrity and show that their sustainability claims are more than just words. They are actions that deliver measurable results and financial returns.

The Path Forward

The financial, legal, and reputational costs of greenwashing are growing. Fortunately, they are entirely avoidable. Companies that invest in credible sustainability practices will be better positioned to navigate tightening regulations and increasing public scrutiny, while also saving money in the process.
The choice is increasingly clear: invest now in verified transparency with strategies that provide the structure, guidance, and credibility you need or risk paying far more down the road.

Ready to explore how verified sustainability can protect your reputation while improving your bottom line? Visit the links below to learn how My Green Lab can support your sustainability goals:

Written by Jazmine Stenger-Smith, Sustainability Certifications Manager, Impact Laboratories

As sustainability becomes increasingly vital, My Green Lab^® Certification provides a structured, effective framework for labs to implement and measure meaningful changes to reduce environmental impact. Central to the success of the certification process, which is designed to engage scientists and lab professionals, is the Lab Lead—a key champion who takes on the responsibility of guiding their lab through the certification process, spearheading sustainability initiatives, and helping build a culture of continuous improvement within their organization.

A Lab Lead coordinates sustainability efforts by overseeing the My Green Lab Certification criteria. They are responsible for engaging their team, administering the My Green Lab Certification surveys, tracking progress, facilitating discussions, and developing action plans. Their role is essential in ensuring that sustainability efforts recommended by the My Green Lab Certification program are seamlessly integrated into the daily operations of the lab.

While leading these initiatives requires dedication, it also provides many benefits, including valuable professional and personal growth opportunities. “Being a Lab Lead has allowed me to expand my knowledge and awareness of sustainability programs. It has helped me connect with people that I otherwise might not have connected with, and I’ve gotten better at stepping out of my comfort zone,” said Micah Stoltz, Operations Manager and My Green Lab Certification Lab Lead at the University of Colorado Boulder.

In organizations with multiple labs signed up to My Green Lab Certification, an Organization Admin helps coordinate efforts across multiple lab teams. For many, the experience of serving as a Lab Lead or Organization Admin not only deepens their knowledge of lab sustainability but also strengthens leadership, problem-solving, and collaboration skills, helping drive measured change throughout the My Green Lab Certification process.

Transforming lab sustainability through My Green Lab Certification 2.0

My Green Lab Certification provides scientists and lab teams with actionable ways to implement sustainable practices without compromising ongoing research. The program assesses current lab operations, identifies areas for improvement, and helps teams reduce their environmental impact.
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The recent My Green Lab Certification 2.0 update introduced groundbreaking tools and processes to make the certification process more interactive and measurable. Updates include third-party verification for greater credibility, streamlined engagement surveys for a smoother experience, and an Impact Estimator tool to track and measure progress. My Green Lab Certification 2.0 also includes a real time dashboard that shares a lab’s projected certification level and score.

Contributed by PHC Corporation of North America

Ultra-low temperature (ULT) preservation lab equipment plays a vital—although often overlooked—role in protecting valuable research and products. If this equipment fails, the consequences can be catastrophic, with years of research potentially destroyed and life-saving treatments lost.

To reduce the risk, it’s important to procure the right ULT freezers. And that means applying appropriate scrutiny when evaluating and selecting a new unit. But what does that look like in practice? What should you pay attention to in order to help maximize your chance of securing a fit-for-purpose ULT freezer that you can be confident in?

Here, we summarize our five top tips to help you select the right ULT freezer.

1. Be clear on capacity requirements and space

First, you will need to know exactly how much storage is needed and how much floor space is available within your lab to house ULT units. No matter how good your ULT freezer is, if it can’t fit in your lab or store all the necessary inventory, then it won’t be much help. A range of ULT units are available on the market to meet a variety of capacity and floor space requirements, from high-volume products ideal for bulk storage to slim upright or chest units that maximize capacity in a small footprint.

Additionally, keep in mind that many ULT freezers need a certain amount of clearance at the front and back of the unit to allow for adequate ventilation, which may catch some people off guard when planning how units fit into their lab space. Some ULT freezers, however, do not have any ventilation clearance requirements for the left and right sides of the equipment. Be sure to plan for ventilation requirements from the start.

My Green Lab and the I2SL organize a free annual competition called the International Laboratory Freezer Challenge, which emphasizes sustainable lab cold storage management, including ULT freezers. The competition promotes efficient inventory management, offering tools like sample management templates. Applying these practices helps ensure you don’t over-purchase capacity, helping optimize both freezer selection and utilization.

2. Prioritize reliability

The impact of frequent ULT freezer breakdowns and repairs is hard to overstate—from a higher-than-anticipated total cost of ownership and increased risk of ruined samples and products, to severe operational disruption. It’s no surprise, then, that reliability should be top of mind in your ULT freezer search.

Many ULT freezers are designed with technologies to ensure smooth operation throughout their lifecycle, such as backup systems that maintain functionality during service events.

While checking features is important, to maximize the chance of selecting the most reliable equipment, we recommend looking for ULT freezers from equipment providers with a strong reputation and reliability. Consult colleagues or repair technicians for insights on frequently failing models, and browse forums for additional feedback (keeping in mind such sources may vary in reliability).

The ability of a ULT freezer to maintain a uniform temperature and recover quickly after door openings is essential for preserving sample quality. These performance metrics are important when selecting a ULT freezer.

Understanding and comparing temperature uniformity and recovery claims, however, isn’t always easy: testing practices and conditions can understandably vary on account of the lack of standardized industry guidance, claims may cover product families rather than individual units, and definitions can sometimes be unclear. For example, differences in ambient testing temperatures, chamber fullness, or the number of temperature probes used can affect results. It can lead to different temperature gradients between the unit interior and the exterior environment, and, consequently, different temperature deviations and recovery times, even when the door is open for the same duration.

That said, ENERGY STAR® testing results (if a company has them) can help provide an unbiased one-to-one comparison of temperature recovery results. To help with comparisons, ENERGY STAR® and ACT Ecolabels offer independently verified data on performance and energy efficiency. Reviewing these certifications can help provide clarity and confidence when evaluating freezers. You can review the ENERGY STAR testing results for ULT freezers in ENERGY STAR’s regularly updated spreadsheet of test results.

4. Pay attention to the potential lifetime cost of equipment

Budget restrictions can all too often influence purchasing decisions for equipment such as ULT freezers. But while choosing a lower-cost (and potentially lower-quality) ULT might help reduce capital expenditure and help purchasing teams meet spending goals on paper, it could, in fact, lead to a much higher cost overall.

For example, evaluate additional charges for maintenance and warranty coverage for parts and labor. Perhaps most importantly, though, you should consider the potential impact of more frequent breakdowns on your lab—including the time researchers have to take away from research to transfer samples to a working unit. Frequent breakdowns can necessitate early replacement, significantly increasing expenditure.

In many cases, investing in higher-quality ULT freezers with a balance of reliability and affordability is more cost-effective over time. To help minimize lifetime costs, the Freezer Challenge encourages implementing proper freezer maintenance protocols, such as defrosting and temperature monitoring, to extend the operational life of the equipment and prevent unexpected expenses.

5. Scrutinize sustainability credentials

Reducing the environmental impact of research is becoming an increasing priority for many labs. But it’s not just the planet that benefits from greener ULT freezer technology and design—laboratories do too.

Unsustainable ULT units can negatively impact your lab in ways that aren’t always obvious. For example, ULT units that consume more electricity to maintain the same level of performance likely expel relatively more heat into the lab space, which can put more stress on HVAC systems, as well as increase the temperature recovery time of the ULT unit (owing to a larger difference between the ULT chamber temperature and the ambient temperature). The elevated strain on both the HVAC system and the ULT unit may even lead to premature failure, which can be costly and disruptive.

Before making a purchasing decision, thoroughly review a freezer’s sustainability and energy efficiency claims. Independent certifications like ENERGY STAR® provide trusted performance and energy consumption data, helping you compare products. ACT Ecolabeled products also offer additional environmental impact insights. Together, these tools ensure you select a freezer that balances performance, efficiency, and sustainability, supporting your lab’s operational and environmental goals.

Making the right decision when it comes to ULT freezers

Selecting the right ULT freezer is crucial for preserving valuable samples and minimizing risks. To maximize the chance of making the right decision for your lab, be sure to consider your capacity requirements and available floor space. Also keep in mind the unit’s reliability, temperature recovery, and uniformity performance, the potential lifetime cost of the purchase, and the unit’s energy efficiency.

By thoroughly assessing these factors, you can select a dependable unit that supports your lab’s operations while mitigating potential disruptions. Resources like the International Laboratory Freezer Challenge, which provides tools for inventory management and energy efficiency insights, can further support your decision-making process.

A note from our sponsor and the author of this article:

To help labs make informed decisions about ULT freezers, PHCbi offers a range of advanced options designed for reliability and performance. The TwinGuard® Series features dual refrigeration systems that work independently to maintain ultra-low temperatures, ensuring sample integrity even during service events.

Additionally, PHCbi ULT freezers, including the VIP® ECO freezers, use innovative heat exchanger technology to provide uniformity and stability, even in high ambient temperatures. Unlike many ULT models, all PHCbi brand ULT freezers do not require ventilation clearance on the sides, allowing for more flexible placement in the lab.

PHCbi also emphasizes sustainability, with ENERGY STAR®-certified freezers that combine efficiency with performance.

Learn more about PHCbi’s ENERGY STAR® Certified Preservation Products or register for a lunch-and-learn session to explore how these freezers can meet your specific needs.

Written by Emma Wightman, MSc – Content Specialist & Technical Writer, Triumvirate Environmental

Written by Caitlin Harclerode – Sr. Director of Marketing, Grenova

The Environmental Impact of Laboratory Plastic Waste

Over the past decade, single-use plastics have emerged as a critical component in the life sciences industry, offering a unique combination of convenience, sterility, and cost-effectiveness. While single-use plastics have played a pivotal role in advancing the industry, it is crucial to acknowledge their environmental repercussions. The widespread adoption of single-use plastics has led to a significant increase in plastic waste generating over  12 billion pounds of plastic waste (1) per year. As the demand for consumables in labs continues to rise, finding sustainable solutions has become imperative​​.

Plastic consumables, particularly pipette tips and plates, are a significant source of waste in laboratories. Broader studies estimate that the production of a single 96-rack of polypropylene pipette tips releases approximately 0.304 kilograms of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) and requires about 6.6 liters of water(2,3,4)​​. When scaled to the level of a typical laboratory’s usage, the environmental impact of manufacturing becomes substantial. With laboratories using these consumables regularly, the cumulative effect on carbon emissions and water usage is staggering. Compounding this effect, the disposal of this plastic contributes significantly to environmental pollution, hazardous waste, carbon emissions, and resource depletion​​.

Sustainable Solutions

When it comes to plastic consumables, we must rethink the traditional “make, use, dispose” model and create opportunities to reuse what we have. The life sciences industry needs to move toward using plastics efficiently and transitioning to a closed-loop system where plastic retains its value by keeping it in the supply chain instead of polluting the environment. In effect, this creates a circular economy that eliminates waste and pollution, keeps materials in use, and restores nature. Laboratories can play a crucial role in this shift by adopting practices that contribute to a circular economy by forming partnerships with suppliers who prioritize sustainability.

One potential method to mitigate environmental impact is by washing and reusing pipette tips and plates. Validation studies from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)(5) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)(6) demonstrate that washed tips are of the same quality as new tips, with no evidence of contamination​​. Integrated solutions, like Grenova’s tip and plate washing systems, allow laboratories to significantly reduce their reliance on single-use plastics. Instruments can be programmed to help scientists use tips in a way that becomes a seamless part of the workflow. Such systems allow laboratories to wash and reuse pipette tips and plates multiple times without compromising research quality.

For plastic that must be used, new options are emerging for recycling and reuse of the material. While part of the responsibility lies with lab managers to conscientiously dispose of their plastic waste, manufacturers must also take responsibility for their products’ end-of-life and find ways to “close the loop.” Implementing dedicated recycling programs within lab spaces can ensure that single-use plastics are collected and reprocessed into new lab products, reducing the demand for virgin materials. Additionally, manufacturers can develop biodegradable alternatives for commonly used lab plastics, further contributing to a circular economy. Collaborations between manufacturers, end users in labs, and closed-loop recycling solutions can accelerate this transformation to a lower-carbon life sciences industry.

Quantifying the Impact

By reusing plastics instead of disposing of them, positive environmental impacts are achieved on multiple fronts. It reduces the need for producing new plastic items, along with lowering the environmental costs associated with packaging, transportation, and disposal. This leads to a decrease in CO2e emissions, water consumption, and hazardous plastic waste. By quantifying and forecasting these reductions, labs can better understand the benefits of implementing a pipette tip-washing solution. For instance, as shown in the image below, using calculations from climate-focused firm Rho Impact, it can be estimated that a lab using 8,500 tip racks annually and reusing each tip ten times could achieve a reduction of 5.3 tons of CO2e(2,7).

Operational costs can also be realized by not purchasing consumables. A study conducted by the Tobacco Exposure Biomarkers Laboratory of CDC that implemented a Grenova tip washer concluded that using cleaned pipette tips can save over $24,000 annually(6)​​. In the case of a customer using 8,500 racks annually, priced at $8.00 per rack, this could translate to a savings of $61,200 per year. The potential cost savings, combined with the reduced supply chain dependencies, makes a compelling case for laboratories to transition to reusable consumables.

Co-written by My Green Lab and Triumvirate Environmental 

The celebration of Earth Day serves as a reminder for us to reflect on our relationship with the planet and the impact of our actions. Every facet of our lives intertwines with the environment, both personally and professionally. In the laboratory, where innovation and scientific advancement take center stage, our impact may often go unnoticed.

This Earth Day, let’s collectively examine how our actions within the laboratory extend beyond its walls and commit to meaningful steps towards positive change. By building a culture of sustainability, and embracing the idea that our actions can, and should, change, we pave the way for a greener, healthier future. 

To capture the spirit of Earth Day, we’ve shared five actionable approaches aimed at fostering a culture of sustainability within laboratory settings.

1. The My Green Lab Theory of Change

At My Green Lab, our goal is to empower individuals to contribute to a culture of change in their organization. In order to engage and inspire colleagues and those in your community to make sustainable change, it can be helpful to situate behavior within a “Theory of Change” framework. 

As most scientists and lab experts would agree, laboratories demand substantial resources and have a considerable ecological footprint. To put it in perspective, labs generate an astonishing 12 billion pounds (5.5 billion kg) of plastic waste annually and consume ten times the energy and four times the water compared to typical office spaces. Amidst this impact, there is a pressing need for innovative solutions to mitigate the environmental consequences. The products used in laboratories greatly contribute to this environmental impact, emphasizing the urgency for sustainable alternatives in lab practices and materials.

In an effort to improve their environmental footprint, scientists and procurement specialists are actively seeking a solution to support making smarter and more sustainable purchases, achieve their environmental goals, and meet carbon commitments. The Solution: The ACT Environmental Impact Factor Label.

To transform sustainability in the laboratory product market, the groundbreaking ACT Eco Label Program from My Green Lab provides third-party verified information about the environmental impact of laboratory products. This independent analysis supports product Accountability, Consistency, and Transparency (ACT), allowing manufacturers to effectively communicate the sustainability attributes and impacts of their products and support smarter, more informed purchases by laboratories.

With an ACT Eco Label, manufacturers demonstrate accountability for the environmental impact of their product and their dedication to reducing that impact. An ACT-labeled product also demonstrates a manufacturer’s willingness to evaluate products with a consistent, industry-standardized method, and to transparently provide details of the product’s materials, manufacturing process, recyclability, energy and water consumption, durability, and manufacturing location. The ACT Eco Label clearly and effectively simplifies the process of selecting more sustainable products.

The ACT Eco Label Evaluation Categories 

To provide in-depth, verified, and useful information, the ACT Eco Label Program evaluation process looks at all aspects of a product’s life cycle, measuring a variety of criteria that results in the most comprehensive eco label for life science products.

Like a Nutrition Facts Label for laboratory products, the ACT Eco Label communicates the complex environmental impact information for a product in an easy-to-understand format. Criteria for the ACT Eco Label were developed by industry experts including scientists, sustainability experts, procurement specialists, and manufacturers. Environmental Impact Factor (EIF) criteria in the ACT Eco Label fall into a variety of categories that are evaluated during the auditing process, including:

1. The Manufacturing Categories – Some examples of criteria assessed in these categories include how the factory uses energy, uses water, and reduces waste, whether there are appropriate environmental management systems in place, and if the factory is using fossil fuel-based energy or energy from renewable sources.

2. The Product and Packaging Content Subcategories – Examples of information assessed in these criteria include the material content of the product and the type of packaging the product uses.  

3. The User Impact Categories – Examples of criteria assessed in these categories include if and how much energy and water the product uses per day, if the product is single-use or multi-use, and the expected lifetime of the product.

4. The End-of-Life Categories – Examples of criteria assessed in this category include if the product will end up in a landfill or materials can be recycled, and if the manufacturer supports recycling or second-life uses.  

​Each of the impact factors described here contributes to the environmental footprint of the product. By auditing and evaluating these product attributes to the ACT Eco Label Standard, My Green Lab helps manufacturers consider, measure, and drive continuous improvement in these factors, resulting in companies providing more sustainable products for laboratories.

Independent auditor SMS Collaborative (SMSC) has extensive experience evaluating products to the ACT Eco Label Standard, a process that provides clear, third-party verified information about the environmental impact of laboratory products.

Written by Emma Wightman, MSc – Content Specialist & Technical Writer, Triumvirate Environmental 

While many scientists have embraced the idea that environmental responsibility is paramount, it can seem daunting to actually implement sustainability best practices within a lab space. From research and development (R&D) to healthcare diagnostics and everything in between, labs are essential for worldwide knowledge acquisition and advancement. Much of this involves exact processes and sterile environments in order to make experiments run smoothly. Often, these processes are resource-intensive, relying heavily on water, energy, and single-use plastic to perform while maintaining research integrity.

Due to the crucial nature of these experiments, sustainability efforts simply won’t work unless sample and experiment integrity can be maintained at the same time. Regrettably, some labs choose not to adopt certain sustainability initiatives due to concerns about potential risks to the integrity of their research or experiments. Fortunately, by implementing proven sustainability best practices and partnering with vendors who prioritize sustainability and safety, labs can not only continue their vital work but also make their operations more environmentally friendly.

Embracing Lab Sustainability

Labs across the globe are realizing the importance of sustainability. They are coming to understand that these resource-intensive spaces offer a unique opportunity for double-sided progress: If labs become more sustainable, they will both reduce their dependency on finite resources while simultaneously continuing the research that helps protect the environment and the global community as a whole.

This concept is cemented by growing societal and governmental concern for the environment. In fact, sustainability compliance is likely to become legally mandated, as evidenced by the 27th Conference of Parties (COP27), the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) drafting, and other such events. On top of this, 80% of consumers have indicated that they prefer to support companies with a stronger approach to sustainability—signaling that sustainability can mean more loyalty and thus, revenue.

Creating a Sustainable Future

That fact remains that even when labs are hoping to implement sustainability programs, there are some perceived barriers to how far this inclusion can go. Many researchers are hesitant to change their standard operating procedures (SOPs) as they don’t want to risk research integrity—or safety—by using products or performing tasks that are not verified as safe and effective. They also may not know how to go about solving lab sustainability issues in a compliant way. As such, they stick to the same routines, continuing their heavy reliance on resources as they prioritize safety and efficiency over sustainability. And who can blame them?

What if we told you, however, that you can have all three—sustainability, research integrity, and safety—by partnering with vendors who take environmental, health, and safety (EHS) seriously? EHS partners are a necessary and constant presence in lab operations, providing waste disposal and consulting services to these spaces. Anyone can provide these services, but only few can offer them in a sustainable way—so it is important to ensure the services and ideas of your EHS partner align with your environmental goals. This may look like:

• Sustainable waste management options, like plastic lab waste recycling or fuel blending that require no change to research design.
• Chemical inventory management program implementation, to ensure all chemicals are accounted for and properly disposed of.
• Environmental advocacy and sustainability leadership, with staff members who are poised to help analyze and confront any barriers to sustainability in a way that meets your needs.

And because safety and sustainability go hand in hand, and labs can be unsafe places for lab personnel and the environment, it is in everyone’s best interest to incorporate both into operations—so you know that a vendor who offers these services is the real deal and actually cares about the well-being of your staff. A few questions to ask the vendor include:

• What services they offer that can increase your operational sustainability.
• How their services will impact your day-to-day operations.
• What checks are in place to help support operational and environmental safety.
• How they incorporate sustainability within their own operations.

EHS Partnering for Lab Sustainability Success

My Green Lab and Triumvirate Environmental, a holistic and turnkey EHS vendor, both share a deep commitment to sustainability and understand the complex needs of labs within this larger push. In partnership, we provide the know-how, and the can-do, to help you achieve any and all of your sustainability goals. Triumvirate Environmental’s deep-set commitment to sustainability and expansive set of service offerings allow labs to craft sustainability solutions that best fit their environment.

With a shared set of values, this partnership strengthens lab sustainability commitments including:

• Education: As industry leaders, both organizations work every day to communicate our passion for the environment with our audience and the broader community.
• Implementation: Triumvirate Environmental’s consulting team can help provide ideas of ways to kick-start your sustainability journey. On top of this, we offer a suite of services dedicated to keeping your lab, your research, and the environment safe, such as plastic waste recycling and chemical inventory management. We can put these programs into place for you, easily and efficiently, without disruption to your operations. My Green Lab provides the research backing and know-how to start implementing these meaningful sustainability changes.
• Advocacy: With over 60 My Green Lab Ambassadors on the Triumvirate Environmental team, we can together be the advocates who help empower your team for sustainability success.
• Community Engagement: Utilizing the My Green Lab Ambassador community, the community at large, and the deep knowledge of the My Green Lab staff, Triumvirate Environmental is constantly finding new and emerging trends in sustainability so we quickly adapt and understand new and beneficial changes to the environmentalist landscape.
• Acknowledgement: My Green Lab can certify your lab—and Triumvirate Environmental can help you through the process, with the services you need to get you there.

Safety is something that can just be a key phrase, but Triumvirate Environmental is proud to put it right at the forefront of our operations—allowing you to focus on research integrity and employee safety. For more information about Triumvirate Environmental, visit www.triumvirate.com.

Written by Ashley Davis – Global Sustainability Manager, Kimberly-Clark Professional

Starting a waste reduction program or becoming a zero-waste organization may seem daunting. But it doesn’t have to be. This article offers a guide for creating a successful waste reduction program and the steps you need to take to get there.

The Waste Walk: Exploring Your Organization’s Waste Landscape

One of the best ways to begin your waste reduction journey is to conduct a waste walk or a series of waste walks, depending on the size of your organization.

A well-planned waste walk can help you determine the opportunities for optimizing management of waste streams and figure out what can be diverted. A waste walk, also known as a Gemba Walk in the practice of Lean and Six Sigma, means taking the time to watch how a process is done and talking with those who do the job.

At Kimberly-Clark Professional, we conduct waste walks to help shape our understanding of what’s going on within a facility and its operations. But don’t view it as a simple stroll through your facility. A waste walk should be properly planned and executed at different times throughout the day. Be sure to document findings during your waste walk by taking note of what the waste streams are composed of, why the waste is being generated, how and where the waste is being collected, and what form the waste is shipping out in. Last, be sure to take photos of your waste.

Key items to observe and capture during a waste walk include:

• Behavior of personnel around waste management
• Waste and material flow throughout the site
• The location of all collection bins
• Disposal fees for waste tonnages

Leadership and Stakeholder Alignment: Support and Collaboration

A waste walk should be properly planned and supported by all stakeholders at the site. Make sure that leadership is involved from the start regarding the scope of work and key waste contributors. Align on outcomes and set timelines for mapping out your waste reduction plan. End users should also be included since they will ultimately be involved in implementing your waste reduction plan.

Assessing and Prioritizing Solutions

Once you have collected as much detail as possible from your waste walk, you can begin to assess and prioritize the work ahead. Your assessment should include:

• The largest volumes of waste
• The largest valued materials
• The easiest solutions
• The most challenging solutions

Next, you need to determine solutions for your waste. Some facilities generate what we refer to as “simplistic” wastes, such as paper, cardboard, aluminum, and general trash. For these types of waste, a good initial step is to reach out to a local waste management organization to find out what solutions they can provide. See if your materials can be recycled or given a second life.

For operations that generate a multitude of complex waste streams, such as rubber, fiber, PPE, electronics, or polymers, you may need to go down a different path. First, find a waste consultant who specializes in diverting these types of materials. Have them come in and assess ways to improve segregation, collection, and material flow to redirect wastes to new applications that are more composition specific.

There are potential opportunities to receive revenue to help defray waste management fees. For example, if you’re using many different polymers at your site, a consultant can help you determine if your waste has value to a resin producer who can sell used materials into injection molding. If so, you can receive revenue here. Or, if you are recycling fiber, you could get paid for those materials, as well.

For more complex streams, a waste consultant can help you evaluate all the services that are available. If you’re a national or international organization, strategic partnerships like these can help you maximize the benefits by addressing waste issues at multiple sites.

And don’t forget to leverage your organization’s internal expertise. If you have in-house experts in waste and recycling, lean on them to help you assess the composition of your materials and your waste streams as well as specific recycling solutions. These experts can work directly with procurement to manage recycling relationships and outlets. This option is particularly valuable for manufacturing environments with waste streams that may command a higher value in the recycling market.

A rule of thumb for prioritizing your waste solutions and investment opportunities: the larger the volume, the larger the value.

Building Effective Partnerships 

Waste is an inevitable aspect of facility operations. If it is not managed properly, it can impact an entire site’s operations. Developing strong relationships with your facility teams and your waste and recycling partners is critical. They can help ensure support for your operations today as well as help you evolve your solutions for the future as new technologies come into the market and as waste streams evolve.

When choosing a waste and recycling management partner, you should ensure that they:
​

• Provide contracts with clearly outlined expectations
• Supply financial and compliance information
• Give you access to regular diversion data

In addition, you should require approval for all waste and recycling outlets prior to any changes and specify that there will be no exporting of materials. Last, make sure your waste recycling partner provides you with a certificate of destruction.

Remember that a waste and recycling journey takes time. You can’t get there all at once, nor can you do it alone. Choose partners who will assist you in your journey. This could include manufacturer-led initiatives for recycling certain consumables, such as PPE, and “middlemen” who will help provide your waste with a second life. Whatever you do, take your time, be thorough, and choose reputable partners with a proven and verifiable track record of success.

Ashley Davis is Global Sustainability Manager for Kimberly-Clark Professional. For more information, visit www.KCProfessional.com.