The evolution of the sustainable laboratory has expanded from the benchtop to infrastructure hidden behind walls and above ceilings. At the My Green Lab Europe Summit 2026, experts argued that true scaling of sustainability requires addressing the One Health framework—recognizing that the environmental health of a facility is deeply interconnected with human and animal well-being. By looking at planetary boundaries, lab managers can translate global environmental limits into practical, site-specific actions.
Optimizing the hidden utility spend
While laboratories often occupy small physical footprints compared to hospitals or factories, their environmental impact per square meter is disproportionately large. James Dooley, head of North America at EM3, noted that utilities and HVAC systems typically account for up to 70 percent of a site's total energy footprint. Because these spaces often require 24/7 climate control for precise temperature and cleanliness, incoming air must be heated, cooled, and dehumidified year-round. Fume hoods further complicate this by exhausting conditioned air directly into the atmosphere, often without heat recovery.
Dooley presented a case study involving 28 global manufacturing facilities where HVAC optimization led to 47 million euros in annual savings. By recalibrating air-change rates and adopting demand-based ventilation, the organization met its 2030 targets without immediately investing in expensive electrification technologies such as heat pumps. This data suggests that energy efficiency can serve as a significant revenue stream through operational cost savings.
Implementing green chemistry and circular design
Scaling sustainability also requires a fundamental shift in analytical methods and product lifecycles. David Dunthorne, PhD, an R&D scientist at Avantor, demonstrated how the 12 principles of green analytical chemistry can be applied to liquid chromatography. By transitioning from standard HPLC to UHPLC and utilizing smaller particle sizes or ultra-short columns, labs can achieve nearly two orders of magnitude in solvent savings. "Don’t let your green aspirations be deterred by your pressure limits," Dunthorne noted, emphasizing that significant savings are possible even on standard HPLC instruments.
For single-use disposables, Amit Limaye, PhD, director of the Sustainable Medical Technology Institute (SMTI) at Becton Dickinson (BD), highlighted the necessity of eco-design. With BD producing 34 billion devices annually, the focus is on reducing the footprint of purchased goods and end-of-life disposal, which together account for about two-thirds of their total emissions. One breakthrough collaboration uses innovative technology to shred and sterilize biohazardous Petri dishes, turning them into recycled-polymer flakes that can be molded into new labware.
Strategies for facility-wide sustainability goals
To successfully implement these changes, lab managers must bridge the gap between corporate goals and daily bench operations. Cristina Alonso Alija, PhD, director of the UNIJES Reference Research Center for Environment and Ecology at IQS, suggested that universities and research centers use gamification and digital platforms to engage staff and students in data collection. This approach helps build a culture of sustainability through documentation and good traceability.
When presenting these initiatives to leadership, the panel recommended focusing on a business case that includes grant funding and energy rebates. By starting with highly visible quick wins—such as optimizing a single high-traffic HVAC zone or certifying a pilot lab through My Green Lab—managers can build the momentum necessary for long-term scalability.
This article was created with the assistance of Generative AI and has undergone editorial review before publishing.
