What does it take to embed sustainability into lab operations across a global network? Steve Vitale, green lab program manager at GSK, shares his insights on building momentum, identifying the right champions, and aligning green lab practices with broader business goals. The conversation sheds light on practical approaches to overcoming common challenges, engaging teams across sites, and making meaningful progress toward long-term environmental targets.
Q: What are the most important decisions lab leaders need to make when beginning to scale sustainability efforts across multiple sites?
A: Identify your sponsors, champions, and stakeholders at each location to support and help drive these initiatives. To be embraced and embedded in the company culture, these efforts must be scaled in alignment with broader business priorities—not in isolation.
Steve Vitale
Q: How do you identify and prioritize which sites or labs are ready for more advanced green lab efforts?
A: Engagement is key. It is usually obvious which groups or sites are embracing and driving sustainability changes and are eager for additional opportunities to pursue. These are the teams and individuals most likely to succeed in adopting new behaviors and leading by example. Success stories and proven benefits always help convince the less adventurous to adopt new behaviors as well.
Q: What are the biggest mistakes labs make when trying to implement sustainability practices at scale, and how can they be avoided?
A: Not engaging with the proper stakeholders and finding sponsors ahead of time. Having support from senior leadership and ensuring all stakeholders are informed and aligned with the strategy are key to success. Once these things are aligned, all other aspects of scaling and adoption become much less complicated.
Q: How can lab managers evaluate the return on investment for sustainability initiatives, especially when benefits are long-term or difficult to quantify?
A: Many sustainability initiatives stem from upcoming compliance and regulations within the industry rather than from “nice to have business practices” these days. Planning and preparing with sustainability in mind builds in business resiliency and opportunities for cost savings in the future with renewable energy and more sustainable feedstock materials.
Q: Can you share an example of a successful global rollout of a sustainability initiative, and what made it work?
A: The My Green Lab certifications have been a terrific tool to drive standardization and sustainable practices across our company. Scientists love data and clear guidelines for success, which are easy to identify and implement through their program. Awareness and education are key to making a lasting change and My Green Lab provides resources and a growing community of passionate advocates striving to make science more sustainable.
Q: If you could offer one key takeaway that lab managers could implement across their sites today, what would you suggest?
A: Everything begins with purchasing and resourcing of our products, which locks in embedded carbon to our final products. Mindful resourcing of sustainable and circular materials is key to industry lowering scope 3 (outside of our operations) emissions by reducing waste at source and maximizing our re-use of materials within our value chains.
Q: Any final advice to share?
A: The solutions are available to achieve Carbon NetZero operations; it just takes a concerted and coordinated effort starting from the top down. Without C-suite support, it is an uphill battle to influence change at any scale. Sustainability cannot be done in isolation and requires collaboration across all parts of the supply chain to be successful.
Steve Vitale is the green lab program manager for GSK, working in the Environmental Engineering Center of Excellence. Steve received his associate’s degree in engineering with a focus on Chemistry from Delaware Country Community College and later completed his bachelor’s degree in Energy and Sustainable Policy from Penn State University. Steve has over 20 years of experience working in the life science industry in various roles. Steve has been involved with site sustainability efforts and initiatives for over 12 years, is a My Green Lab ambassador and accredited professional, striving for a more sustainable life science industry.
