As sustainability expectations rise across the life sciences, laboratory leaders are being asked to evaluate the environmental impact of consumables, equipment, and materials with greater precision. My Green Lab’s 2025 Carbon Impact of Biotech and Pharma report shows that demand for product carbon footprints is accelerating quickly, driven by procurement teams seeking clear, comparable data across the lab supply chain. Product-level emissions data are emerging as an essential tool for Scope 3 reporting and vendor assessment, and laboratories now play a central role in interpreting and applying this information.
Industry pressure builds for standardized product carbon footprints
The report highlights significant momentum toward standardized methods for calculating and reporting product carbon footprints. Traditionally, suppliers have used varied methodologies, making comparisons across products or vendors difficult. As major pharmaceutical companies push for improved transparency, suppliers are now expected to disclose emissions using consistent, widely recognized frameworks.
This shift is reshaping supplier expectations. Many manufacturers—especially those producing reagents, plastics, cold-storage components, and packaging—are being asked to provide product-level data alongside safety documentation and technical specifications. For smaller suppliers, meeting these new requirements can be challenging, prompting investment in data systems and emissions modeling.
Life cycle assessment becomes central to supplier reporting
The report notes a substantial increase in the use of life cycle assessments (LCAs) to support product carbon footprints. LCAs evaluate emissions across the entire product life cycle, from raw materials and manufacturing through distribution, use, and end-of-life. This level of detail helps procurement teams understand the embedded impact of items commonly used in laboratory workflows.
According to the report, early adopters of LCAs are already seeing operational benefits, including improved visibility into energy-intensive production steps and identification of opportunities to reduce emissions. As more suppliers participate in sustainability programs such as Energize and Activate, LCA-informed reporting is expected to become standard practice.
Implications across the lab supply chain
The expansion of product carbon footprints affects multiple aspects of the lab supply chain. Laboratories that purchase consumables, solvents, diagnostic components, and cold-storage equipment may soon receive emissions data as part of routine procurement. This transparency supports:
- More accurate Scope 3 emissions reporting
- Informed comparisons between similar products
- Clearer justification for purchasing decisions
- Selection of vendors aligned with organizational climate goals
As the availability of LCA-backed data grows, laboratory managers will need to incorporate emissions considerations into sourcing, budgeting, and operational planning.
How this shift affects laboratory operations
The rise of product carbon footprints and LCA-based reporting signals a broader industry transformation. Laboratories will increasingly evaluate environmental impact alongside technical performance, reliability, and cost. This trend is likely to influence not only purchasing workflows but also supplier relationships, inventory planning, and long-term sustainability strategy.
For lab managers, gaining fluency in interpreting product carbon footprints will be essential. As standardized data become more widely available, laboratory teams will play a critical role in using emissions information to guide decisions and support institutional climate commitments.
This article was created with the assistance of Generative AI and has undergone editorial review before publishing.
