Therefore, it would stand to reason that there is an increasing urgency within the scientific community for labs to reduce the environmental impact of their scientific research.
 

Scientific research facilities account for a disproportionate amount of energy consumption and waste compared to other commercial buildings, according to Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Martina Franke.

As a former lab manager, Martina began her career with a specialisation in molecular biology before working as a medical researcher across a number of fields– immunology, biochemistry, protein and gene research.

After relocating to Australia, she took the lead setting up a new biomedical research lab in-situ. Starting from empty benches, she worked to get the lab up and running, meeting and exceeding compliance and regulations to the highest standards of practice.   

Now in a role as Product Manager at Thermo Fisher, Martina assists customers with understanding lab management from an operations and facilities management perspective, which includes the careful planning, measuring and costing of a lab’s environmental impact.  

“The detrimental environmental impact of unsustainable laboratory practices contributes to rising sea levels, global warming, reduced biodiversity and changes in local ecology and disease patterns,” says Martina.  

“From an environmental perspective, scientific research facilities trump other commercial buildings due to the volume of waste they output from lab consumables, cold storage facilities, and ventilation systems– all of which are used to ensure sterile and temperate conditions for performing scientific work,” she explains.  

“From an operations management perspective, a lab’s environmental impact can be assessed based on its waste management processes and the natural resources it expends, but there is also the financial impact for lab managers to consider. For example: What does it actually cost a business to implement more sustainable products and processes?”

As pressure mounts on the scientific community to offset their environmental impact, labs are being encouraged to demonstrate that they are purposeful in their sustainability efforts.

And yet– many organisations still believe that implementing sustainability in the lab will compromise important scientific work.  

“By taking a fresh look at how labs operate from the top-down, Thermo Fisher has been looking for ways to incorporate green chemistry and green engineering principles, products, and processes, cost-effectively to help labs reduce waste, improve energy efficiency, and conserve resources,” says Martina.

“But endeavouring to tackle sustainability issues within the lab means that lab managers must become responsible for helping their employees understand their individual impact and their organisation’s larger footprint.”

Given that sustainability in the lab is a relatively new concept that lacks established guidelines from trusted parties, Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Green Team has taken the lead on developing valuable resources for labs who want to implement more sustainable, cost-effective, products and practices right now. 

The following tips contain easy-to-follow steps based on Thermo Fisher’s key sustainability criteria that will enable labs to start making greener choices now and take steps toward a healthier, cleaner and safer future.

General tips for day-to-day efficiency

• Turn off laboratory equipment when not in use– Energy usage is a main contributor to a lab's environmental footprint.
• Close fume hood sashes and turn off biosafety cabinets when not in use.
• Close windows if your HVAC system is on.
• Ensure scheduled maintenance for all equipment– Well maintained equipment lasts longer and runs more efficiently.
• Upgrade old lab equipment to more efficient models wherever possible. This is particularly important for equipment that cannot be shut down such as freezers and cold storage. This equipment impacts not only the environment–but operational costs.
• Measure and analyse the energy consumption of equipment to monitor its efficiency.
• Organise a Green Lab team internally, and host monthly Green Lab meetings to discuss greener workflows, greener chemistry, procurement of greener products.
• Create a win-win situation for both cost and environmental considerations by reducing chemical, reagent, and sample volumes used in experiments, as well as by minimising the number of tests run.
• Try to substitute disposable products with reusable products wherever it is reasonably possible.
• For guidance on the environmental impact of laboratory products and equipment, look out for these criteria: The ACT Label, Energy Star Rating, My Green Lab Supplies and Lab Equipment Guidelines.

The journey to making sustainability in the lab a reality starts today with Thermo Fisher Scientific. For an easy-to-follow, handy tips checklist that can be posted above a workbench, Thermo Fisher Scientific has created a sustainability in the lab companion checklist ‘A year of sustainability in the lab’– which highlights daily, monthly, and annual green actions for labs to follow.

Download checklist     Learn more about sustainability in the lab

Resources

1. The University of Queensland, UQ Sustainability, Green Labs Best Practice Guide
2. Penn State Sustainability, Green Labs Guide
3. Green is the new Crimson, Harvard Lab Sustainability Guide
4. My Green Lab: https://www.mygreenlab.org