To celebrate Earth Month and align with the 2025 Earth Day theme, "Our Power, Our Planet," we’re sharing five practical sustainability tips that labs can implement with minimal effort but significant impact.

These expert-recommended strategies can help kickstart or elevate your lab’s sustainability initiatives. Whether you're looking to make small changes or take your green efforts to the next level, these actionable tips provide an easy starting point for fostering a more sustainable lab environment.

Advanced Lab Management Certificate

The Advanced Lab Management certificate is more than training—it’s a professional advantage.

Gain critical skills and IACET-approved CEUs that make a measurable difference.

Jasmine Stewart
Quality control sustainability – HSE program manager, AstraZeneca

“My tip would be to create an energy-efficient HVAC system and implement HVAC-friendly behaviors that can significantly reduce the environmental impact and operating costs of the lab. You can optimize the system’s performance through routine maintenance and the use of smart technology to adjust settings based on usage patterns in the lab, such as turning down the aircon overnight. Simple and consistent actions, like lowering the fume hood sash when not in use and closing doors and windows, prevent unnecessary strain on the HVAC system, keeping your facility comfortable while saving energy."

Katarzyna Solka
Specialist, Research Support Unit, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences

 “In line with the 2025 Earth Day theme, ‘Our Power, Our Planet’, my sustainability tip is turning off lights in unused labs and office spaces while making the most of natural light. This practice is easy to implement, costs nothing, and can significantly reduce energy consumption.

Interested in lab design?

Sign up for the free Lab Design Newsletter from our sister site, Lab Design News.

Is the form not loading? If you use an ad blocker or browser privacy features, try turning them off and refresh the page.

By completing this form, you agree to receive news updates and relevant promotional content from Lab Design News. You may unsubscribe at any time. View our Privacy Policy

On sunny days, lights are often left on in bright areas, like staircases, simply because they’re not noticed. At home, people are usually mindful of turning off lights to save on bills, but at work, energy bills aren’t as visible, and the impact may not always be considered. Small changes like this can really make a difference and foster a culture of sustainability that benefits everyone.”

Sydney Kuczenski

Green labs outreach and engagement specialist
Office for Sustainability, University of Virginia

“One of my favorite green lab tips is keeping a freezer maintenance checklist and inventory on each freezer door. This helps the whole lab keep track of regular maintenance practices and spend less time with the door open. I've even had labs hang whiteboards to the side of their freezer so that sample inventory can be easily changed as experiments are carried out.”

Antoine Claux
Strategy deployment leader, business partnerships & sustainability, Corning

“Purchasing lab consumables in bulk can significantly reduce plastic waste, leading to a more sustainable laboratory environment. For example, with Corning handheld tips, opting for bulk tips can result in a substantial reduction in plastic usage, with bulk tips using between 49-95 percent less resin compared to their pre-racked alternatives. This dramatic decrease not only minimizes the environmental footprint of labs by reducing the amount of plastic waste generated but also lower the demand for plastic production.”

Namrata Jain, PhD
Director of marketing, My Green Lab

“A well-maintained freezer runs more efficiently, cutting energy waste and lowering long-term costs.

Excessive ice buildup in lab freezers strains compressors, leading to higher energy use and a shorter equipment lifespan. Annual defrosting improves efficiency, ensures stable temperatures, and protects valuable samples. To minimize disruptions, schedule defrosting during low-usage periods and secure backup storage for critical samples.

To optimize your cold storage even further, consider participating in initiatives such as the currently ongoing free International Laboratory Freezer Challenge, which is all about energy and waste reduction through lab cold storage. Participants learn how to enhance energy efficiency, improve sample accessibility, reduce risks, and save costs through sustainable lab cold storage practices.”