Scientific discovery and innovation drive progress in medicine, technology, energy, and environmental sustainability. Yet behind every breakthrough lies a hidden cost. Laboratories are among the most resource-intensive spaces, relying on vast amounts of energy and water to power equipment, maintain strict environmental controls, and support research processes. As labs push the boundaries of innovation, they must also confront a critical challenge: how to uphold their mission while minimizing their impact on the planet.
One approach to address this challenge is to implement a green lab program, which provides structured pathways and certifications to achieve sustainability goals. Various programs help reduce energy consumption and waste while optimizing resource use. Here are a few programs to consider:
My Green Lab
My Green Lab is a nonprofit organization that advances sustainability in laboratory environments worldwide. To date, it has supported more than 3,400 labs across various sectors in reducing their environmental impact. Its My Green Lab Certification provides actionable strategies to reduce environmental impact, focusing on energy use, water conservation, waste reduction, and sustainable procurement.
Beyond certification, My Green Lab promotes sustainability advocacy and education through various initiatives. One is the Freezer Challenge, a global competition encouraging labs to adopt the best cold storage and energy efficiency practices. Since 2017, participating labs have collectively saved 76.5 million kWh of energy, demonstrating the tangible impacts of small changes.
Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF)
Developed by University College London, LEAF helps laboratories reduce their environmental impact, particularly in academic and research settings. The framework offers three accreditation levels—Bronze, Silver, and Gold—with labs progressing by adopting sustainability actions that reduce energy, water, and resource consumption.
LEAF also provides tools, such as an online sustainability actions guide, a savings calculator, and resources for training and engagement to promote best practices and participation.
ISO 14001 Certification
ISO 14001 is an internationally recognized environmental management standard that helps organizations, including laboratories, reduce their environmental impact while ensuring regulatory compliance. To achieve certification, labs must establish environmental policies, set measurable objectives, monitor performance, and conduct regular audits. The standard emphasizes continuous improvement in waste management, energy efficiency, and resource conservation.
Selecting the right lab sustainability program
Choosing a lab sustainability program requires careful evaluation of your lab’s specific challenges, objectives, and resources:
1. Assess your lab’s needs and goals
The first step in choosing a sustainability program is identifying your lab’s key environmental challenges. High energy consumption, excessive waste, or inefficient resource use may be priority areas. Setting clear objectives, like reducing energy use by 20 percent, can help determine the best fit. While structured certifications like ISO 14001 provide rigorous oversight, frameworks like LEAF offer more flexibility.
2. Understand program scope and requirements
Lab sustainability programs vary in focus. Some target specific areas, such as waste reduction or energy efficiency, while others take a broader approach. Eligibility also differs; some programs are open to all labs, while others cater to specific industries. Time and resource commitments should also be considered. Certifications, such as ISO 14001, require audits and ongoing compliance, whereas My Green Lab Certification follows a step-by-step improvement model.
3. Align with institutional and regulatory priorities
Many organizations have existing sustainability initiatives, and selecting a program that aligns with them can simplify implementation. Some certifications may also support compliance with regulations or qualify labs for funding and grants, providing additional incentives.
4. Weigh costs and long-term value
While sustainability efforts often lead to long-term savings, upfront costs vary. Some certifications require a one-time fee while others involve ongoing expenses for training and audits. Labs should balance these costs against potential energy, waste disposal, and operational efficiency savings.
5. Consider implementation and scalability
A program is most effective when it integrates smoothly into daily operations. Green lab certifications that provide training and peer support can ease adoption. Labs anticipating growth should consider scalability to ensure continued sustainability improvements over time.
Expert insights: How to implement lab sustainability programs
Lab Manager spoke with Emily Colpack, Green Labs coordinator at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), and Emma Stapleton, PhD, research assistant professor at the University of Iowa, to explore effective sustainability strategies.
Colpack, who has onboarded more than 150 labs into UAB’s Green Labs program, and Stapleton, who is one year into the university’s journey with My Green Lab, share insights on integrating sustainable laboratory practices. Their experiences illustrate practical steps for labs at any stage of their sustainability adoption:
Gather a group
“Taking the initiative to create a group is vital. The input is critical—we all have different perspectives . . . and it ultimately makes the work stronger.”
For Stapleton, forming a group was essential during the planning and implementation stages.
“Taking the initiative to create a group is vital,” she explains. “The input is critical—we all have different perspectives . . . and it ultimately makes the work stronger.” As a group, Stapleton and her sustainability team used a democratic process to identify key focus areas, including supply, waste, and energy, establishing their path forward.
Start with low-hanging fruit
Every lab is different, so a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work. At UAB, the strategy was to start with the easiest changes—what they call “picking up the fruit on the ground” before reaching for bigger goals. “Doing the easy things first, even if it’s not as impactful, lets you build trust,” explains Colpack. For example, UAB saved $20,000 one month by modifying HVAC settings during off-hours. Adjusting freezer temperatures to -70°C and using outlet timers are other simple yet impactful changes.
Gain buy-in
Getting buy-in from all areas of the organization—leadership, facilities, and other departments—is crucial for successful sustainability initiatives. Support from leadership helps set priorities, while facilities teams play a key role in implementing changes, such as improving waste management or upgrading equipment. For Stapleton, securing buy-in from the biochem store was essential in reducing excessive Styrofoam waste in the lab. By demonstrating demand, such as requesting non-racked conical tubes and cardboard pipette tip boxes, the lab convinced the store to stock more sustainable options. Support from a sales rep passionate about conservation also made the transition smoother.
Make lab sustainability visible and easy
Many researchers are surprised to learn how simple adopting more sustainable laboratory practices can be. One effective strategy is labeling equipment to indicate whether it can be turned off after use, requires permission, or should always remain on. “I give our researchers stickers . . . [or] you can use masking tape,” says Colpack. “We label every single piece of equipment and say, ‘Can this be turned off after each use? Should someone ask before turning it off? Or should this piece of equipment never be turned off?’”
The energy pulled from outlets accounts for 22 percent of lab energy use and is the easiest category to make an impact.
This system removes uncertainty in large, shared labs and ensures that equipment is only on when necessary. The energy pulled from outlets accounts for 22 percent of lab energy use and is the easiest category to make an impact. Simple, visible reminders can help labs significantly reduce wasted power.
Educate and debunk ingrained ideas
Many unsustainable lab practices persist because “this is how we’ve always done it,” explains Colpack. Encouraging researchers to question traditions and rethink habits can lead to impactful changes. She encourages dialogue with lab staff: “Do you know why you’re doing it this way?” Often, the answer is no—people were taught a certain way but never considered alternatives.
A great example is shutting the fume hood sash. “Fume hoods can use three and a half homes’ worth of energy, and shutting that sash can help reduce how much energy it consumes,” Colpack says. Many researchers admitted that they had never considered closing it, but once they understood the safety and sustainability benefits, the change was simple. Educating lab members on these small shifts—backed by clear reasoning—can break ingrained habits and create a more sustainable workplace.
Incentivize and motivate lab staff
Encouraging sustainable laboratory practices is often more effective when paired with incentives and friendly competition. Colpack encourages labs to compete for sustainability recognition by awarding stickers for achievements. Seeing these visible markers on other lab doors motivates researchers to aim for higher certification levels. This system has also motivated principal investigators (PIs) to push for greener practices. Colpack recalls, “I have had PIs come to me and ask, ‘What can we do to get the best certification? What do I need to change in the lab to be better?’”
Beyond competition, tangible rewards help reinforce sustainable behaviors. Colpack’s team offers free recycling services to incentivize labs to participate in UAB’s green labs program. While she emphasizes that sustainability is more than just recycling, Colpack acknowledges its motivational impact. “Researchers can see that waste disappears,” she explains. “They don’t get to see the energy they save—as in they don’t get a bill—but they do see all the waste put outside their lab for us to pick up. They know that’s not going into the landfill; it’s getting recycled—a rewarding visual for them.”
Driving lasting change with lab sustainability programs
Sustainability in research labs isn’t just a trend—it’s a necessary shift toward more efficient and responsible science. Green lab certifications provide a framework for meaningful change, but the lasting impact comes from engaging researchers, rethinking entrenched habits, and creating a culture where sustainability is second nature. By taking strategic steps, lab managers can drive real progress and set a standard for the future of greener research.
