2022 Freezer Challenge Reduces Emissions by 6,700 Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide by Promoting Sustainable Lab Cold Storage Management

My Green Lab and the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories (I2SL) are proud to announce that the 2022 Freezer Challenge has saved a total of 6,732 metric tons of carbon dioxide, which is equivalent to the energy consumption of 1,310 homes for one year, more than doubling the carbon reduction from last year’s competition! Thousands of scientists from around the world participated in this year’s Freezer Challenge, a competition designed to promote best practices in cold storage management to achieve greater energy efficiency, sample integrity, sample access, risk prevention, and cost savings.

The number of labs engaged in this year’s challenge also doubled, with 1,200 labs from 27 countries around the globe and 12,000 cold storage units participating in the program. In total, participating labs represented 120 research institutions.

"More than doubling the number of labs engaged in this year's Freezer Challenge represents a tipping point in a broader transition to sustainability across the science industry. The increase not only doubled the total amount of carbon saved but helped drive further awareness towards the growing green labs movement. We saw a wider variety of labs enter the competition from all over the world, including more hospital and clinical labs than ever before, with increased participation from biotech, pharmaceutical, and academic labs," says James Connelly, My Green Lab's CEO.

The International Laboratory Freezer Challenge, a joint program hosted by My Green Lab and I2SL, launched as a global competition in 2017. To date, the challenge has saved 23.7 million kWh of energy, reducing CO2 emissions by 16,796 metric tons, the equivalent of saving energy consumed by 3,268 homes for one year.

“Cold storage is a significant contributor to carbon emissions in labs, and we are thrilled by the growth and increasing impact of this critical program,” says Kathleen Brady, Executive Director of I2SL.

With the growth of this year’s challenge and the expanding reach of sustainability programs within laboratories, we expect to see an even greater carbon reduction in next year’s challenge.

Learn more about the Freezer Challenge and join the 2023 interest list here.