The celebration of Earth Day serves as a reminder for us to reflect on our relationship with the planet and the impact of our actions. Every facet of our lives intertwines with the environment, both personally and professionally. In the laboratory, where innovation and scientific advancement take center stage, our impact may often go unnoticed. This Earth Day, let’s collectively examine how our actions within the laboratory extend beyond its walls and commit to meaningful steps towards positive change. By building a culture of sustainability, and embracing the idea that our actions can, and should, change, we pave the way for a greener, healthier future. To capture the spirit of Earth Day, we've shared five actionable approaches aimed at fostering a culture of sustainability within laboratory settings. 1. The My Green Lab Theory of Change At My Green Lab, our goal is to empower individuals to contribute to a culture of change in their organization. In order to engage and inspire colleagues and those in your community to make sustainable change, it can be helpful to situate behavior within a “Theory of Change” framework. The Theory of Change begins with awareness. First, we must become aware that there is a problem and understand that we can behave differently. This awareness drives action – breaking old habits to make way for new behaviors. Through actionable pathways to learning and implementing sustainability best practices, you build the confidence to continue going further in making a difference. This confidence will allow you to take leadership of initiatives, inspiring others around you to follow in your footsteps. As more people begin to adopt new behaviors, these practices become the norm, creating a positive and lasting culture of sustainability. As this culture grows, sustainability practices become institutionalized through policies, procedures, and organization level goals. And a collection of organizations with sustainable lab cultures creates a global community of passionate and active sustainability champions that fundamentally shift the way science is conducted.
The strength of this approach lies in its accessibility; even if you don’t currently have institutional support for your sustainability ideas and initiatives, you can start anyway, with individual awareness, collective action, and leadership. Build the momentum that will result in cultural change in your lab and in the global community. By fostering momentum, you can drive cultural shifts within your laboratory and contribute to broader global change. 2. The Power of Community Community plays a pivotal role in driving sustainable action. Through shared experiences and collective efforts, individuals in and around the lab learn, grow, and hold each other accountable. Embrace the power of community by spreading awareness and sharing the knowledge you’ve learned with those around you. “Our hearts and minds can be more easily moved by those closest to us,” says My Green Lab’s Senior Programs Manager Christina Greever-Wilson. “This is why we shouldn’t be shy about sharing our own lab sustainability goals – and successes – with others in our network. For someone who is on the fence about sustainability, hearing from a friend or colleague in their own community about the ease of making sustainable actions can make a huge difference.” 3. Leadership and Communication Clear communication and regular engagement with stakeholders are crucial for embedding sustainability into the culture of your lab or organization. When thinking about and planning your lab’s sustainability journey, provide ample opportunity for input and feedback, especially from scientific teams, who often have valuable insights into resource consumption and can test new sustainable protocols and processes. By actively listening to stakeholder ideas, the entire community becomes invested in the sustainability process. Beyond adopting sustainable practices, leaders must actively engage stakeholders and foster a collaborative environment where everyone feels empowered to contribute to positive change. Regular communication channels, such as meetings, newsletters, or digital platforms, provide opportunities to celebrate successes, address challenges, and keep sustainability goals at the forefront of everyone's minds. Ultimately, by prioritizing transparent communication and inclusive leadership, laboratories can foster a culture where sustainability is embraced as a core value and integrated into everyday practices. 4. Small Yet Impactful Sustainability Practices Matter Seemingly small changes in laboratory operations can have a significant impact on sustainability. Take, for instance, the simple act of sharing printers among colleagues or setting up printers to default to double-sided, black-and-white mode. This not only reduces paper waste but also contributes to a cleaner laboratory environment by minimizing clutter. Does checking for leaky faucets sound too simple? It shouldn’t! Leaky faucets that drip once per second can waste 3,000 gallons of water per year. According to the US EPA, that’s enough water for more than 180 showers! Minor adjustments not only contribute to environmental conservation but also foster a culture of sustainability within the laboratory community, where every individual action counts towards a greener future. By emphasizing the importance of individual actions and illustrating the tangible benefits of sustainability practices, leaders can inspire a collective commitment to minimizing environmental footprints. Moreover, by highlighting the cumulative effect of these efforts, laboratories can underscore the significance of every contribution, no matter how modest, in advancing the goal of a greener future. 5. Planet vs. Plastics This year’s Earth Day theme is Planet vs. Plastics, with earthday.org calling for a 60% reduction in the production of all plastics by 2040. Without a doubt, plastic remains one of the most commonly discarded materials in laboratories. Plastic is everywhere in the lab, from tube racks and pipette tips to conical vials and filtration flasks, with the list constantly expanding as research and industries discover new applications for plastic. And while some of this plastic is necessary, there are ways to reduce and reuse, as well as considerations for a plastic to have a different end of life. Our team has put together a variety of resources to help you kickstart your waste reduction journey. Read our blog post on How to Reduce Waste in the Laboratory, or guest contributions like Sustainable Pipetting: Tips for Reducing Plastic Usage in the Lab and How To Kickstart Your Waste Reduction Journey. Additionally, those interested in a deeper dive into lab waste can sign up for My Green Lab’s Accredited Professional (AP) Program Module on Waste. Continuous Improvement While Earth Month is a significant time to reflect on how our actions impact the earth, it’s important to recognize that your journey doesn’t end here. The path towards a truly sustainable future requires a commitment to continuous improvement. By remaining vigilant, receptive to new ideas, and dedicated to refining your practices, we can build upon our successes and drive even greater positive change. Embrace the challenge of constant evolution, knowing that every step forward, no matter how small, brings us closer to a more sustainable tomorrow. Together, let's continue to communicate, educate, and inspire, ensuring that our laboratories not only lead the way in scientific discovery but also serve as beacons of environmental stewardship for generations to come. We're thrilled to spotlight Sven Duda, an accomplished member of the green labs community who is not only a dedicated My Green Lab Ambassador but has also helped the Chair of Applied and Molecular Microbiology in the Biotechnology Institute at the Technische Universität Berlin achieve My Green Lab Certification.
Sven, a research associate at Technische Universität Berlin and a My Green Lab Ambassador, is deeply committed to fostering a culture of sustainability. Through the My Green Lab Certification process, Sven and his colleagues at the Chair of Applied and Molecular Microbiology have enhanced their lab's sustainability practices. His commitment exemplifies the transformative potential of collective action and the power of small changes in driving meaningful progress towards a more sustainable future. Learn more about the Ambassador Program and My Green Lab Certification through Sven’s journey, detailed below. Please tell us a bit about yourself. My name is Sven Duda. I was born and raised in Berlin, Germany. I’m currently working at the Technische Universität Berlin as a research associate deeply involved both in my research project working with fungi and the implementation of sustainability measures within our laboratory and university. Apart from my academic pursuits, I’m also a passionate Touch Rugby player. In addition to my main roles of researching, assisting purchasing, and student supervision, I am an assigned sustainability manager. Together with my Applied and Molecular Microbiology department colleagues, we worked our best to achieve a My Green Lab Certification in November 2023. Let’s chat about your experience with My Green Lab Certification. Before launching the program, what challenges were your lab facing concerning lab sustainability and engagement? Before the certification process, we had implemented some sustainability practices, but there were challenges. For example, we share our resources with other departments at the Technische Universität Berlin. And while we are trained to use the devices and talk about the contamination risks beforehand, we did not have a good overview of which devices utilize which quantities of electricity, and there was no point of reference for what a kWh is and how much polluting potential this encased. This made our decisions on saving energy tough. Can you share a bit about your experience going through My Green Lab Certification – including what you learned and sustainability success stories within your lab? My experience through the My Green Lab Certification process was very encouraging. The progress report results from our baseline assessment shared clear instructions for sustainability best practices, databases to work with, and positive feedback on things that had been working. This report, along with the contact we had with the My Green Lab team personally, motivated me to go further and think of more sustainable measures to share with my colleagues and others from the Technische Universität Berlin. It really is the small things that can make a big difference. For example, the utilization of stickers to make colleagues aware of shutting down devices that don't take long to turn on (clean benches and their lights, vortexers, light switches on the hallways, etc.). Also, the utilization of outlet timers on water baths or drying ovens for a more effective usage of time and electricity. They are such an everyday tool at home, but we hadn’t thought about using them in the lab! The certification showed us how to think outside of the box and try ways to be more sustainable and be more responsible when researching and experimenting. Can you share any data that suggests improvement on sustainability parameters? By taking out 50% of our neon tubes from the hallway and disconnecting devices that we don't need on at night, we estimate that we have reduced electricity waste by at least 20% in comparison to before the certification process. In order to create a better overview of electricity usage in our department, more numbers and measurements are in preparation with the Occupational Health and Safety Services and Environmental Protection departments of the Technische Universität Berlin. What effect did the certification process have on the sustainability culture within your organization? We realized that the My Green Lab Certification is not only a sustainability certification, but also a great teamwork builder! The program drove me to start attending university events and department talks to share our experience with those who can profit from our work in developing science for our community in a sustainable way. What is the most interesting thing you learned while becoming a My Green Lab Ambassador? The My Green Lab Ambassador Program educated me on the basis of sustainability in a lab! Many of the things we do in the lab, even the good things, are done because they were written or decided years ago without re-checking their effectiveness. The Ambassador Program motivated me to talk openly with my colleagues about which sustainability measures we need to implement or improve. The most interesting thing I learned was that, as I mentioned before, small changes in the lab, as well as our perception, can make a big impact on our way of working and using resources. How has the My Green Lab Ambassador Program enriched your sustainability journey? The My Green Lab Ambassador Program enriched my and the Chair of Applied and Molecular Microbiology's sustainability journey by showing us that this is not a journey we need to do alone. It encouraged me to get other colleagues at the Technische Universität Berlin involved and help ‘activate’ them with the reason they began their careers in science: curiosity. My Green Lab is proud to announce the launch of our new commercial subsidiary, Impact Laboratories. Impact Laboratories will advance My Green Lab’s certification program through third-party verification. Our two organizations will work together to accelerate progress on our shared mission of building a global culture of sustainability in science. My Green Lab CEO, James Connelly, says, “This is a pivotal moment in the continued growth and evolution of My Green Lab. The introduction of third-party verification ensures our certification adopts international best practice and provides verified impact, giving scientists and organizations yet another reason to embrace the world’s most trusted green lab certification.” “As we scale our efforts around the world, it’s vital that we constantly seek ways to better support our community, measure our impact, and ensure the continued integrity of our programs. Introducing third-party verification will help the entire scientific community by accelerating the journey to lab sustainability at a global scale,” continues Connelly. Impact Laboratories will help deliver more resources, enterprise scale software tools and funding to help My Green Lab better support its many vital programs and build an even more successful community-driven movement. The increased support will include more in-depth research, resources, community building and educational events, and more substantial discounting for academic labs through an organization subscription model. The programs, tools and education services supported by My Green Lab include:
“My Green Lab Certification is a key way in which we are accelerating emissions reduction in healthcare R&D and instilling a culture of sustainability at AstraZeneca. We are encouraged to see My Green Lab raise the bar yet again and align with international best practice by providing third-party verification to enhance the rigor of this powerful certification platform.” — Penny James, COO Biopharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, and My Green Lab Board Member “Quality, integrity, and community are at the heart of My Green Lab’s mission. We are constantly working to strengthen our programs and enhance our impact. Third-party verification is the next step that helps drive action and impact in one of the industry’s most challenging arenas: labs and lab supply chains.” — Jeffrey Whitford, Vice President, Sustainability and Social Business Innovation, MilliporeSigma, the US and Canada Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and My Green Lab Board Member “My Green Lab is helping to transform the entire academic scientific community through their programs and tools, and third-party certification is an important next step to ensure impact. We have certified over 200 labs at UAB and we are excited to take advantage of the new resources and tools that Impact Laboratories will be providing the academic community.” — Nick Ciancio, Sustainability Coordinator, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and My Green Lab Certification Steering Committee member In 2023, My Green Lab and the broader green lab community achieved notable milestones, bringing sustainability to the forefront of the scientific community. From unprecedented program expansions to launching a global collective supply chain initiative, My Green Lab’s mission and momentum continues to grow; supported by a powerful and dedicated community of green lab leaders around the world. As we pause to reflect on the progress made in 2023, it's clear that this collaborative spirit and partnership with the My Green Lab community has propelled us forward. Our shared mission of promoting sustainability in science has grown thanks to the dedication of our community members, forward-thinking sponsors, partners, and collaborators. Thank you to everyone who has helped and continues to champion our mission of building a global culture of sustainability in science. Below are our top ten highlights and milestones that defined My Green Lab's journey in 2023, shaping the narrative of sustainable science for the years ahead. 1: My Green Lab Unveiled Converge, a Collaborative Supply Chain Initiative Harnessing the collective efforts of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, our team was proud to launch Converge, a collaborative supply chain initiative, at COP28 in December 2023. In collaboration with founding sponsors AstraZeneca, GSK, Bristol Myers Squibb, Amgen, and Merck KGaA, this initiative encourages suppliers like Contract Research Organizations (CROs), Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMOs), and Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations (CDMOs) to reduce the environmental impact of labs in their value chain through My Green Lab Certification. Converge is a major turning point in the uptake of green labs globally and in achieving the UN-Backed Race to Zero Breakthrough Outcome goal that 95% of all labs are My Green Lab Certified by 2030. 2: The 2023 Carbon Impact of Biotech & Pharma Report In December, we released the 2023 update to our Carbon Impact of Biotech & Pharma Report which provides an overview of the industry’s carbon footprint and identifies key opportunities for change. The report found an increase in the industry’s Race to Zero commitments, with thirty-five companies, or 53% of the sector by revenue, committing to the Race to Zero, up from thirty companies last year. Along with tracking notable progress within the industry, the report also highlighted the need for increased action in scope 3 reductions and collaborative supply chain engagement. 3: My Green Lab Accredited Professional (AP) Program Certifies Over 60 Green Lab Experts All six modules of the world’s first green lab accredited professional program became available on mygreenlab.education in October, and over 60 individuals have since become accredited green lab experts through the program. With modules on Energy, Water, Engagement, Procurement, Green Chemistry, and Waste, the AP program provides a comprehensive, holistic education on achieving sustainability in the lab and beyond. Our program aims to empower the scientific community to make better-informed choices in order to collectively contribute to a more environmentally conscious and responsible global research landscape. 4: My Green Lab Certification Engaged 2,000+ Labs and 26,000+ Scientists from 45 Countries In November, My Green Lab Certification hit a remarkable milestone by reaching 2,000+ labs across 45 countries, bringing green lab best practices to over 26,000 scientists. The global success of this program, considered the gold standard for laboratory sustainability and the cornerstone of our mission, highlights the scientific community’s commitment to making real, impactful environmental changes within their laboratories. 5: The ACT-Eco Label Program reached 2,540 Labels Another significant achievement in 2023 was the ACT-Eco Label Program attaining a milestone of 2,540 labels! Labs demand substantial resources, and the products used contribute greatly to their environmental impact. The ACT-Eco Label program simplifies the process of selecting more sustainable products by providing third-party verified information about the impact of a product. Along with My Green Lab Certification, the ACT-Eco Label is one part of a community working to drive real change within labs. 6: The 2023 Freezer Challenge Saved 20.7 Million kWh of Energy Since its launch in 2017 by My Green Lab and I2SL, the International Laboratory Freezer Challenge has experienced substantial growth, with the 2023 challenge marking its most successful year to date. Participating labs contributed to saving a whopping 20.7 million kWh of energy, corresponding to 14,663 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. The challenge doubled the amount of CO2 saved in 2022, with nearly 2,000 laboratories around the world participating in the free competition that promotes energy efficiency through best practices in cold storage management. We are sure that 2024 will be another year of record-breaking success for this important green lab program. 7: AstraZeneca’s Penny James Joined the My Green Lab Board of Directors My Green Lab was proud to announce the appointment of Penny James to its Board of Directors in 2023. As Chief Operating Officer in R&D BioPharmaceuticals at AstraZeneca, Penny brings extensive experience and a 30-year career marked by impactful leadership to the My Green Lab Board. We are honored and excited to have Penny on the team and look forward to her contributions to helping build a global culture of sustainability in science. 8: My Green Lab and Science Foundation Ireland launched a Sustainable Laboratory Certification Pilot Program Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) launched a program for the widespread rollout of My Green Lab Certification across all eligible, SFI-funded labs in 2023, creating the first nationwide sustainable lab program of its kind. In collaboration with My Green Lab, this program promises to reshape the landscape of lab sustainability in Ireland and around the world. A global first, this partnership will extend the reach of My Green Lab Certification and inspire other national and international foundations to invest in sustainability. 9: My Green Lab Sponsors Support Sustainable Science Our growth in 2023 was made possible by our community of generous sponsors. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to these sponsors, whose unwavering support continues to play a pivotal role in bringing our mission to life. It is through their commitment that we can expand our initiatives, promote sustainable practices, and make a lasting impact on the scientific community. 10: My Green Lab’s Team: Continued Growth and Commitment to Sustainable Science This year’s progress and growth wouldn’t have been attainable without the invaluable support and collaboration of the exceptional team at My Green Lab. As the momentum of our mission grew, so did our team – with four new additions strengthening our presence as an organization. Thank you to our team for their continued dedication to building a global culture of sustainability in science. In gratitude, James Connelly Chief Executive Officer, My Green Lab Penny James, BioPharmaceuticals R&D Chief Operating Officer at AstraZeneca, Brings Three Decades of Expertise to Strengthen My Green Lab's Commitment to Sustainable Science My Green Lab is proud to announce the appointment of Penny James to its Board of Directors. As Chief Operating Officer in R&D BioPharmaceuticals at AstraZeneca, Penny’s extensive experience in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries will help My Green Lab continue to build a global culture of sustainability in science.
"We are thrilled to welcome Penny James to the My Green Lab Board of Directors. Penny's wealth of experience at AstraZeneca, coupled with her deep commitment to sustainability and her leadership capabilities, align perfectly with My Green Lab's mission. Her strategic vision and extensive background in driving process efficiency will undoubtedly enrich our organization as we continue to advance sustainability practices in laboratories worldwide,” said James Connelly, CEO, My Green Lab. “Penny's dedication to environmental stewardship will be a valuable asset as we work towards a greener and more sustainable future for the scientific community.” With a 30 year career marked by impactful leadership, Penny assumed the role of COO BioPharma R&D at AstraZeneca in 2019, following her tenure as Vice President Operations for the IMED Biotech Unit. She has played a pivotal role in driving process efficiency and effectiveness, leading Lean Sigma programs across Europe and the US at the Eastman Chemical company. Penny also holds positions on the boards of Cambridge Biomedical Campus Ltd, One Nucleus, and the MRC Environmental Sustainability Council. With a Master’s in Medical Statistics and as a Chartered Statistician and Lean Sigma Master Black Belt, Penny is well-equipped to contribute significantly to My Green Lab's mission and initiatives. "I am delighted to join the My Green Lab Board of Directors. Having worked closely with the organization to bring sustainability best practice to AstraZeneca’s R&D laboratories, I believe in their commitment to advancing sustainability across the scientific community. I am eager to contribute to My Green Lab's impactful initiatives and collaborate with fellow board members to drive further positive change. Together, we will champion sustainable practices that make a meaningful difference in laboratories around the world,” said Penny. Recognized as one of the most sustainable biopharmaceutical companies, AstraZeneca understands the importance of bringing a culture of sustainability to science and beyond. Collaborating closely with My Green Lab, they have undertaken key initiatives that showcase their commitment to protecting the environment. This partnership includes AstraZeneca’s active participation in the International Freezer Challenge, a program that has saved over 44 million kWh of energy in laboratories across the globe since 2017. Through Penny’s leadership, AstraZeneca has also achieved My Green Lab Certification for all its R&D lab facilities, a program that is considered the gold standard for laboratory sustainability best practices around the world. In partnership with My Green Lab, AstraZeneca is leading the charge for sustainable science, establishing standards that facilitate the creation and distribution of new medicines in the most environmentally responsible manner possible. |