ACT Label Program Update
We're seeking Technical Advisors for our ACT Label program. Applications are due by February 24, 2023!
Since the Launch of the ACT Label program in 2018, the program has engaged dozens of manufacturers in a process of continuous improvement and transparent disclosure of their product’s environmental attributes. It has also empowered scientists and procurement leaders worldwide to begin integrating sustainability considerations in to purchasing decision-making.
As the ACT movement has grown, so has the landscape of sustainable product design in life science. For the next evolution of the program, we need input from the leading green lab practitioners, leading sustainable manufacturers, and product sustainability experts around the world to ensure the ACT program best supports the scientific community and consistently drives measurable impact on Life Science supply chains.
My Green Lab, in conjunction with the ACT program’s lead auditing body, SMS Collaborative, is committed to transparency and community collaboration in the development of our programs. Both organizations strive to ensure that these programs reflect best practices in the rapidly evolving scientific community, are aligned with globally adopted approaches to sustainable supply chains, and ultimately drive the reduction of environmental impacts at a per product level.
We are currently seeking passionate and knowledgeable green lab leaders and sustainable product leaders to become volunteer ACT Technical Advisors.
As the ACT movement has grown, so has the landscape of sustainable product design in life science. For the next evolution of the program, we need input from the leading green lab practitioners, leading sustainable manufacturers, and product sustainability experts around the world to ensure the ACT program best supports the scientific community and consistently drives measurable impact on Life Science supply chains.
My Green Lab, in conjunction with the ACT program’s lead auditing body, SMS Collaborative, is committed to transparency and community collaboration in the development of our programs. Both organizations strive to ensure that these programs reflect best practices in the rapidly evolving scientific community, are aligned with globally adopted approaches to sustainable supply chains, and ultimately drive the reduction of environmental impacts at a per product level.
We are currently seeking passionate and knowledgeable green lab leaders and sustainable product leaders to become volunteer ACT Technical Advisors.
Additional Details About 'Technical Advisor—ACT’ Role
Guiding Principles:
Guiding Principles:
- Fully manifest the vision and mission of the ACT program.
- Ensure accountability, consistency, and transparency in standard development and application.
- Seek to be the gold standard representing leading thinking in the industry, grounded in science, and verified to have impact.
- Ensure adherence to the standard is technically and economically feasible for a wide range of products and companies.
- Encourage continuous improvement and transparency within the manufacturing process and supply chains.
- Harmonize with globally recognized standards, systems, and best practices wherever relevant and possible, to ensure integrity, and promote adoption of the standard.
Advisor Topics Areas:
Steering Committee:
Technical Committee(s):
The technical committee structure will be further refined and agreed upon once the steering committee is formed. Below are the potential topics the technical committee(s) will be tasked with exploring although this list is by no means prescriptive or exhaustive and is subject to change per the steering committee’s feedback.
General Topics:
Product Specific Requirements:
Steering Committee:
- Overall program framework and concept.
- Requirements for achievement and verification for both initial audits and recertification.
- Feasibility of implementing certification levels within the overall ACT program or by product category.
- Data reporting and potential alignment with organizational targets and existing systems.
- Resources needed to support the data collection and continuous improvement process.
Technical Committee(s):
The technical committee structure will be further refined and agreed upon once the steering committee is formed. Below are the potential topics the technical committee(s) will be tasked with exploring although this list is by no means prescriptive or exhaustive and is subject to change per the steering committee’s feedback.
General Topics:
- Manufacturing Impact Reduction
- Environmental Managements Systems
- Sustainable Materials
- Shipping
- Life Cycle Analysis / Embodied Carbon
- ACT Label for new, emerging, and disruptive technologies
- Aligning the ACT standard with market trends, drivers, regulatory changes
Product Specific Requirements:
- Chemicals and Reagents
- Consumables
- Equipment
- Sustainable Product Innovations
Tentative Advisor Roles and Time Commitment:
Each advisory committee will be asked to make the following commitments during the 2023 calendar year
Each advisory committee will be asked to make the following commitments during the 2023 calendar year
- Attend a 60-minute orientation meeting covering the project goals, timeline, and guiding principles
- Provide written comments on a program proposal
- Attend a 2–3-hour workshop to develop the framework and concept for the certification program as well as data reporting requirements
- Provide written recommendations for scoring methodology within impact areas
- Attend 2 to 3 1-hour meetings to align on scoring methodology
- Review and provide written comment on a Certification Standard document
- Provide written recommendations on existing resources to support achievements or reductions and resources that need to be developed
- Support Research and Develop Priorities as needed/interested
Tentative Timeline:
- Select advisors in March
- Orientation meeting in June
- Workshop meeting in July
- Working meetings in July to September
- Stakeholders Identify Resources in September
- First Draft of Full Program in October
- Public Comment Period in November
- Program Pilot in January 2024
- Program Released in Spring 2024