Labs are resource-intensive, consuming significantly more energy and generating more plastic waste than office spaces, contributing to 2% of the global total. Fortunately, the scientific community is already making huge strides in reducing its carbon footprint—and your lab can too. ZAGENO recently hosted a webinar featuring Scott Weitze of My Green Lab (MGL), a non-profit organization at the forefront of driving lab sustainability, where they discussed actionable strategies for enhancing sustainability through better procurement and operations. By participating in MGL’s programs and utilizing the ZAGENO lab supply marketplace, it is possible for labs of all sizes to minimize their environmental impact without compromising research excellence.
Four Initiatives Driving Sustainable Lab Practices
According to MGL, a recent survey showed that 82% of labs have adopted sustainability metrics, and 75% of labs now incorporate sustainability criteria into their procurement processes. MGL's programs offer a proven approach to reducing environmental impact in one of the world’s most resource-intensive and challenging sectors: laboratories and their supply chains.
1. My Green Lab Certification: The gold standard in sustainable lab practices
The My Green Lab Certification serves as a comprehensive framework for evaluating and improving the environmental performance of research facilities. Labs that achieve this certification demonstrate a commitment to sustainability across various operational areas, including energy use, water management, waste reduction, and chemical management. As of April 2024, over 2,600 labs worldwide are MGL certified—a testament to the program's rapid growth and impact.
Benefits of certification: Labs achieving MGL Certification often see benefits including significant energy savings, reduced waste, and improved operational efficiency. Additionally, the certification process helps create a culture of sustainability within the lab, encouraging staff to adopt greener practices in their daily work.
ZAGENO’s role: With over 40 million product SKUs from over 5,300 global brands, ZAGENO offers the industry’s largest life sciences lab supply marketplace, serving as a valuable resource for labs seeking products that align with their sustainability goals. Its AI-driven platform provides tools to help increase scientific productivity by removing the manual, tedious steps labs are forced to deal with when researching, purchasing, and tracking lab supplies. By offering detailed product insights, ZAGENO empowers labs to make informed choices that support MGL certification.
To learn more about MGL Certification Process, download the free eBook "Improving Lab Sustainability Through Better Procurement & LabOps".
2. Empower change with the My Green Lab Ambassador program
The free MGL Ambassador program provides a structured introduction to sustainability through short courses, quizzes, informative videos, and monthly webinars featuring inspiring speakers, and is a great way to get started when thinking about sustainability improvements. With nearly 7,500 ambassadors from 81 countries, the program fosters a global community committed to environmental stewardship and sustainable practices.
Support from ZAGENO. ZAGENO’s platform makes it easier for MGL Ambassadors to access sustainable products and solutions that can be easily integrated into lab operations.
3. Take on the Freezer Challenge: A simple step with big results
A typical -80°C freezer consumes as much energy as an entire American house. However, adjusting temperatures from -80 to -70°C can reduce energy consumption by approximately 30%. Adding regular maintenance practices to ensure cold storage operates at peak efficiency can collectively save up to an additional 10% of energy usage.
The International Freezer Challenge, a free, joint program between My Green Lab and I2SL, runs from January to July each year and offers best practices to optimize cold storage operations, helping labs to potentially save between 1 to 30 kilowatt hours per day, depending on the type of freezer or other cold storage used. The Freezer Challenge has achieved remarkable success, saving 20.7 million kilowatt hours of electricity in 2023, with even more energy savings in 2024. Beyond environmental benefits, the challenge also translates into significant cost savings.
ZAGENO’s contribution: Participating in the Freezer Challenge is made easier with ZAGENO’s range of products that support efficient freezer management and lasting energy savings.
4. Look for the ACT Label: Transparency in lab product sustainability
Standing for Accountability, Consistency, and Transparency, the ACT Label helps labs make informed purchasing decisions by clearly displaying the environmental impact of products. The ACT Label evaluates products based on their manufacturing impact, user impact, and end-of-life disposal. This supplier-agnostic, third-party audited system ensures the reliability, accuracy, and independence of the data on sustainability attributes.
ZAGENO’s impact: Just like the ACT Label, the ZAGENO marketplace is also supplier agnostic. Labs can easily find and purchase items that meet their sustainability standards without marketing influence.
Partnering with My Green Lab and ZAGENO for a sustainable future
My Green Lab’s initiatives, from the MGL Certification to the ACT Label, provide powerful tools for driving sustainability in the lab environment. By participating in these programs, labs can make meaningful strides in reducing their environmental impact, improving efficiency, and fostering a culture of sustainability. ZAGENO is here to support every step of the way, offering a supplier-agnostic marketplace filled with sustainable solutions.
For a more in-depth look at driving lab sustainability through better procurement and operations, please enjoy the following free resources, you’re invited to watch our free webinar.
