Sustainability in the Lab

At Thermo Fisher Scientific, we believe that a small change today will make a big impact on our tomorrow
Explore our sustainability solutions

Green labs are the future

At Thermo Fisher Scientific, we believe that green labs are the future. That's why, through our Sustainability in Lab Program, we have strongly committed to offering more sustainable products, solutions, and services that can significantly reduce the environmental impact of scientific research and testing. 

 

Our Sustainability in the Lab Program includes a diverse range of specialisations that, together, take a holistic approach to addressing the scope and complexity of achieving sustainability in the lab while at the same time encouraging lab practitioners to take stock of their individual environmental impact and adopt a mindful approach to sustainability in the lab.

Watch our short film: Sustainable science is a journey

Envisioning a world where green labs are the future starts with a change in perspective. That means starting to think beyond the traditional 'take make dispose' model, towards a more circular approach to laboratory practice that uses fewer resources and produces less waste. From making greener product choices to looking for ways to reduce the environmental impact of scientific work – the journey to achieving sustainability in the lab begins here. To learn more, watch the video.

How to go green in the lab

By taking a fresh look at how labs operate from the top down, Thermo Fisher Scientific has developed innovative ways to incorporate sustainable solutions into our products and services. Through our Sustainability in the Lab Program, we aim to lower the environmental impact of science by evaluating product lifecycles – from product design and manufacture; to packaging and shipping; to decommissioning and disposal.

 

Every day we work with labs to implement more sustainable processes by:

Make greener product choices

Just look for the leaf

For customers seeking greener alternatives today, Thermo Fisher has created an easy identification system with our green leaf symbol. When you see the green leaf symbol on one of our products, it means it meets one or more of our sustainability criteria.

What are these sustainability criteria?

We have rigorously evaluated products to ensure they meet at least one of the following: are less hazardous; are made with less material or reduce the use of other materials; use sustainable packaging; create less waste; and are efficient in the use of energy.

 

Learn more about each of our pillars of sustainability and products that can support you in becoming greener in the lab.

Improving energy efficiency through innovation

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Solutions for less waste or use of fewer resources

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Extend product longevity and sustainable disposal

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Less hazardous products and waste

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Sustainable packaging and shipping improvements

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Measure your environmental impact: The ACT Label

We believe it should be easy to make informed purchasing decisions when looking for sustainable products.

 

By participating in the ACT Label Program, run by the non-profit organisation My Green Lab, we can provide easy-to-use information about our products' environmental impact.

 

ACT labels are eco-nutrition information labels for comparing the environmental impact of lab products and helping choose more sustainable products.

Green facts by product

Get the facts. Find details on all green product claims for each of our greener product lines

 

We take sustainable product design seriously and believe all greener product claims should be transparently documented. For each of our greener product lines, we provide a green fact sheet that explains and substantiates the greener product claim(s) related to that product line.

Guidebooks for Green Labs

Leading green labs in to the future

With this guidebook, we aim to provide practical steps necessary for achieving sustainability in the lab. Framed by a leadership perspective, we hope this resource will allow lab managers and key decision makers– in both traditional and non-traditional lab settings– to implement greener products and practices for a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future in the lab.

Download guide

Towards zero waste

Is your goal to achieve zero-waste in the lab? Our Towards Zero Waste guidebook provides practice step-by-step information on zero-waste strategies that organisations can implement to significantly reduce hazardous waste and waste that goes to landfills. This guide provides insights, best practices, and lessons learned, that we have collected on our own journey towards zero-waste.

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Sustainability in service

Many lab practitioners do not realise that the manner in which lab equipment and instruments are maintained and serviced largely determines their overall environmental impact. By investing in a proper service plan, labs can future proof valuable assets by protecting the life cycle of the equipment. Furthermore, a comprehensive service approach allows labs to offset their environmental footprint and better meet their sustainability targets.

 

To learn more about our sustainability in service solutions, download our guide or visit our sustainability in service page.

Deepen your insights

Keep green initiatives top of mind – each poster provides practical tips for labs looking to be more sustainable

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Science was born of the desire to preserve and protect life. Get handy tips for achieving sustainability in the lab

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Learn how La Trobe University is implementing more sustainable lab practices for a greener future in the lab

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Find all our sustainability resources in one place –our Sustainability Resource Library. Articles, smart notes, blogs and more

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