When Chuck Blanchette began rebuilding his organization’s Green Labs program, participation was modest. Within two years, active membership expanded from just two labs to 12 engaged teams. His influence extended further through the International Freezer Challenge, where involvement grew from eight labs in 2022 to 54 in 2025—helping avoid an estimated 96 metric tons of CO₂ emissions while also reducing freezer service calls and equipment failures.
Blanchette also created a lab plastics recycling program from the ground up. After diverting nearly 2,000 pounds of rigid plastic in its pilot phase, the initiative is now scaling across multiple buildings with a projected diversion of more than 16 tons annually. As one colleague put it, “He made sustainability feel achievable and honestly, even exciting.”
Blanchette is the recipient of the 2026 Excellence in Lab Sustainability Award, recognized for implementing sustainable practices, procurement strategies, and operational decisions that measurably reduce the lab’s environmental footprint.
Here, he explains how data unlocked early momentum, why visibility and ownership accelerate engagement, which metrics resonate most with lab leaders, and three actions managers can implement quickly for immediate impact.
What does receiving a 2026 Lab Manager Leadership Excellence Award mean to you at this point in your career?
Receiving this award feels less like a personal milestone and more like proof that sustainability in research is no longer optional; it’s operational.
I didn’t start my career in sustainability. I started in facilities and operations. Over time, I realized that the people closest to the equipment, the energy use, and the waste streams are the ones who can drive the biggest change. This award tells me that the work we’ve done to embed sustainability into daily lab operations is being recognized as leadership, not as a side initiative.
At this point in my career, it reinforces something I believe deeply: you don’t need a corner office to lead meaningful change. You need ownership, data, and the willingness to start.
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.
What first convinced you that meaningful sustainability change was possible in research labs?
When I reviewed the freezer data, it was clear that ultra-low-temperature (ULT) freezers are essential in biomedical research, but they consume as much energy as a typical household per day. These freezers are energy-intensive. During our first Freezer Challenge cycle, we observed the impact of simple operational adjustments: adjusting temperatures to -70°C where suitable, cleaning filters, defrosting units, and retiring empty or redundant freezers. The energy savings were real and measurable: thousands of kilowatt-hours were conserved, service calls dropped by nearly 70 percent, and equipment lifespans were extended. That moment marked a turning point. When sustainability improves performance and reduces costs, it ceases to be just a “green initiative" and shifts to smart management.
You expanded Green Labs participation across your organization significantly. What drove that growth?
Three key elements: visibility, validation, and ownership. First, we made the results visible. Labs want to see impact, not just slogans. We translated kilowatt-hours into carbon reductions, cost savings, and relatable equivalents. Second, we validated lab managers as leaders. Sustainability wasn’t driven by compliance; it was driven by champions. We created recognition opportunities and publicly celebrated wins. Third, we made it practical. No one signed up for additional work. We integrated sustainability into existing workflows, such as freezer maintenance, inventory cleanouts, and procurement decisions.
Interested in lab design?
Growth didn’t happen because sustainability was mandated. It happened because it improved lab operations…and made it enjoyable.
Which sustainability metrics matter most for labs?
The metrics that align environmental benefit with operational performance:
- Energy use per square foot or per freezer
- Equipment uptime and service reduction rates
- Waste diversion rates (especially high-volume streams like plastics)
- Scope 1 and 2 emissions tied to lab energy consumption
- Avoided cost from efficiency improvements
But beyond the numbers, engagement is a metric. How many labs are participating? How many champions are leading? Culture shift is harder to measure, but it’s the most powerful indicator of long-term success.
Where do labs often waste resources without realizing it?
Freezers are the obvious one, but procurement is the sleepier issue. Labs frequently over-order consumables “just in case.” Expired reagents, duplicated supplies across groups, and unused plastics represent both financial and environmental waste.
Another hidden area is idle equipment. Centrifuges, water baths, and incubators left powered on continuously when not in use add up significantly over time.
Finally, data management. Samples stored indefinitely without inventory discipline create energy burdens that persist for years.
We helped push the notion that sustainability often begins with asking one simple question: Do we actually need this running right now?
What are three practical sustainability actions lab managers can implement quickly?
1. Begin with the largest energy consumer.
Don’t try to fix everything at once. Focus on one high-impact system—usually cold storage or ventilation. Small changes like adjusting freezer temperatures or improving airflow can reduce energy use immediately without affecting research.
2. Turn reminders into routines.
Sustainability lasts longer when it becomes part of how the lab closes each day. Simple checklists for shutting sashes, turning off idle equipment, and securing samples work better than awareness campaigns every time.
3. Use what you already own.
Before purchasing new supplies, establish a system for labs to share surplus materials internally. Most labs have hidden inventory that can help others, reducing waste and procurement costs immediately.
The fastest wins come from changes that make labs run better, not harder.
