Research is often framed as the path to solutions—but the way it is funded may be driving inefficiency and waste. Laboratories account for an estimated two percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, comparable to the aviation industry. According to a new article in Clinical Biochemistry, sustainable research funding could play a decisive role in changing that trajectory. Authored by Kevin J. Tu of the University of Maryland School of Medicine and Christina Greever-Wilson of My Green Lab, the paper argues that funders can incentivize greener operations without undermining scientific excellence.
For laboratory managers, this shift is highly relevant. Funding policies shape decisions about space utilization, equipment purchases, and operational standards. If sustainability becomes a condition of grant support, managers will be tasked with leading that transition.
When lab operations create preventable harm
Laboratories are designed to advance science, but the way they operate can also create unintended harm. Inefficient practices—such as running energy-intensive fume hoods, relying heavily on single-use plastics, or leaving idle freezers online—drive up both costs and emissions.
A space audit at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus underscored the scale of the problem: 44,000 square feet were tied up with obsolete equipment and excess supplies. The cleanup saved an estimated $44 million in construction costs and removed 3,000 pounds of hazardous chemicals.
For lab managers, examples like this highlight how everyday inefficiencies can undermine budgets, safety, and sustainability goals.
Europe sets the pace for sustainability in funding
Across Europe, research funders are moving quickly to embed sustainability in grant requirements. According to the article, Germany’s Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft now mandates environmental impact assessments in proposals. In Ireland, a Research Ireland pilot ties funding to My Green Lab Certification. In the UK, groups such as the Wellcome Trust and Cancer Research UK require grantees to meet accreditation standards like LEAF Certification.
Together, these initiatives represent more than $30 billion in annual research funding. They send a signal that sustainability is not just a side project—it is becoming an expected component of scientific excellence.
Why US policies fall behind
In the United States, the system of indirect cost recovery often rewards inefficiency. According to the article, universities negotiate reimbursement rates for facilities and administrative (F&A) costs, which cover utilities, maintenance, and overhead. The higher the operating costs, the higher the reimbursement rate. In practice, that means institutions may benefit more from building new labs—even energy-intensive ones—than from renovating existing spaces.
This structure leaves little incentive for space audits, shared equipment programs, or energy-saving upgrades. Without policy pressure, underutilized labs remain idle, and resource-intensive operations continue unchecked. For laboratory managers, this can mean working within facilities that are costly to maintain and resistant to modernization.
What lab managers can do now
While large-scale change depends on funders, individual labs and managers can take action:
- Integrate sustainability into proposals: Include energy savings, waste reduction, and green chemistry practices in grant applications
- Audit and optimize: Reclaim space, retire unused equipment, and participate in equipment-sharing networks
- Pursue certification: Programs such as My Green Lab Certification or LEAF provide external validation, while newer resources like the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories’ (I2SL) AIM Report give managers a structured pathway to assess energy use
- Lead cultural change: Encourage daily practices—closing fume hood sashes, adjusting freezer temperatures, reducing water waste—that add up to significant savings
Advocacy also matters. Campaigns such as Million Advocates for Sustainable Science give researchers and managers a collective platform to call for policy reforms that reward efficiency.
What’s next for sustainable research funding
The shift toward sustainable research funding is accelerating, but unevenly. European funders have already built sustainability into the rules of research, proving that cost savings and carbon reductions can coexist with productivity. In the US, outdated funding models still favor expansion over efficiency, but pressure is building for reform.
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For laboratory managers, this is a moment to prepare. By embedding sustainable practices today, managers can position their labs for compliance with future funding expectations—and demonstrate that science can meet both its research and environmental responsibilities.
