With deep gratitude for all his remarkable contributions, My Green Lab bids farewell to Ryan Arnold as our Vice President of Investments and Partnerships and Health Sector Lead for the High-Level Climate Champions. Throughout his time with My Green Lab, Ryan has been a true advocate for climate action, driving impactful change and inspiring our community to advance sustainable practices while playing a crucial role in launching our subsidiary, Impact Laboratories.
 
As Ryan embarks on his next chapter as Regional Business Manager for the Spokane Region at Avista Corporation, we take this opportunity to reflect on his journey, achievements, and vision. Below, Ryan shares insights and experiences that have shaped his impactful career at My Green Lab.
 
1. What stands out about your time with My Green Lab, and what are you most proud of contributing?

One of the things that stands out most to me is the incredible group of leaders at My Green Lab. This team’s passion for sustainability was what first drew me in and why I joined. From the very beginning, I saw a commitment to making a global impact, and that vision has only grown stronger as we’ve expanded the team with more amazing individuals.
 
As VP of Investments and Partnerships, I had the privilege of fostering diverse relationships that brought together people from different sectors, and I’m proud of helping drive these relationships. A highlight was securing funding and building resources for Impact Laboratories—a leadership experience that has been deeply rewarding. As I step away, I feel confident that I’ve helped set the organization up for continued success.
 
2. What key learnings will you take with you from your time at My Green Lab that will guide you in future roles?

My Green Lab gave me the opportunity to broaden my skillset in building partnerships and managing relationships on a global scale. While I’ve always worked on initiatives in this space, this role took those efforts to an international level. I learned how global organizations collaborate, how supply chains function worldwide, and how to initiate a global movement through relationship building. That’s key for me.
 
These lessons are invaluable and highly transferable to any work I do moving forward. The skills and networks I’ve developed during this time will continue to guide me in creating meaningful change.
 
3. What are some of your favorite memories with the team, and how did those experiences shape your time here?

My favorite memories revolve around the team retreats. Meeting in person with colleagues I’d worked with virtually allowed us to connect on a personal level. My Green Lab has always been intentional about creating opportunities for the team to bond beyond just work conversations.
 
These moments—getting to know my teammates as individuals—have been so meaningful. It’s those personal connections that enrich day-to-day collaboration and make this work truly special.
 
4. What advice would you give someone stepping into a similar role looking to make an impact on sustainability?

For anyone taking on a global initiative in sustainability, my biggest advice is twofold:

First, focus on building a network of passionate individuals who can carry the message forward. Relationships are the foundation of meaningful change.
 
Second, look for key leverage points that can create ripple effects. It’s not just about spreading the word—it’s about identifying and addressing the structural opportunities that shift entire markets. For example, the Million Advocates for Sustainable Science campaign aims to fundamentally change how scientific funding is delivered, creating systematic change. It takes time, relationships, and finding passionate people to build up the momentum that can become a key leverage point.
 
These two things together, I think, are what My Green Lab and Impact Laboratories have been doing really well. For someone in a similar role, these are the critical approaches you have to connect to make an impact. 
 
5. As you transition to your new role, how do you plan to stay connected to the community to support My Green Lab in the future?

My new role is deeply community- and business-focused, which allows me to engage with a diverse range of organizations and stakeholders across the region. My goal is to be an advocate and to make sure that, while I’m out there in the world, I’m telling everyone about the great things I see, hear, and I have worked on in the past. I’ve always done this in the past with startups and organizations I’ve worked with, and I think it’s the role of being a key connector or partnership facilitator.
 
I’ll remain a connector and champion for My Green Lab, sharing its successes and fostering partnerships wherever I can. Even though I’m departing, I’m still passionate about what we’ve done at My Green Lab, and I’m excited to watch this team grow and achieve even more in the years ahead. I’ll be telling the world what My Green Lab is up to because they’re doing great things.
 
While Ryan transitions to his new role, he will remain an advisor to and continue to support My Green Lab and Impact Laboratories’ growth in Spokane and beyond. Please join us in wishing Ryan success in his new role as Regional Business Manager at Avista! We know he’ll continue to make a difference and lead with passion.

We are thrilled to announce the recommendation of both My Green Lab Certification and the ACT Ecolabel Program into the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) Program! This mark of distinction from EPA highlights the credibility of our programs and their alignment with international best practices.
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EPA’s Recommendations of Specifications, Standards, and Ecolabels help federal purchasers identify and procure environmentally preferable products and services. Federal purchasers are directed in Executive Order 14057 on Catalyzing American Clean Energy Industries and Jobs through Federal Sustainability, the Federal Sustainability Plan, and subpart 23.1 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation to procure products and services meeting the Recommendations to meet net-zero emissions and other procurement goals. Alignment with federal sustainability goals demonstrates that My Green Lab Certification and the ACT Ecolabel Program meet the highest international standards, driving meaningful progress toward reducing the environmental impact of scientific research.
 
“EPA’s recommendation is a powerful validation of our work at My Green Lab,” said James Connelly, CEO of My Green Lab. “This distinction affirms the integrity of our programs and their critical role in reducing the environmental impact of laboratories and laboratory products. With EPA’s support, we are one step closer to making green labs the global standard.”

Driving Global Momentum of Green Labs

This independent review by one of the world’s most recognized environmental authorities affirms that both My Green Lab’s standard development process and criteria adhere to best practices for environmental certifications. 

My Green Lab Certification is considered the gold standard for laboratory sustainability best practices around the world. Supported by third-party verification from Impact Laboratories, My Green Lab Certification has engaged 3,450 labs in 50 countries reaching over 41,000 scientists. ​

The ACT Ecolabel provides transparent, third-party verified data about the environmental impact of laboratory products. By offering clear information on product sustainability, the ACT Ecolabel empowers procurement teams and scientists to make informed, sustainable choices. The ACT Ecolabel database includes 3,400 labels from 40 manufacturers.

This recommendation from EPA not only reinforces the value of our programs but also reflects the growing global momentum toward sustainable practices in scientific research. As the demand for environmental best practices in laboratories continues to rise, My Green Lab is committed to driving sustainability worldwide.

Ultra-low temperature (ULT) preservation lab equipment plays a vital—although often overlooked—role in protecting valuable research and products. If this equipment fails, the consequences can be catastrophic, with years of research potentially destroyed and life-saving treatments lost.
 
To reduce the risk, it’s important to procure the right ULT freezers. And that means applying appropriate scrutiny when evaluating and selecting a new unit. But what does that look like in practice? What should you pay attention to in order to help maximize your chance of securing a fit-for-purpose ULT freezer that you can be confident in?
 
Here, we summarize our five top tips to help you select the right ULT freezer.
 
1. Be clear on capacity requirements and space
 
First, you will need to know exactly how much storage is needed and how much floor space is available within your lab to house ULT units. No matter how good your ULT freezer is, if it can’t fit in your lab or store all the necessary inventory, then it won’t be much help. A range of ULT units are available on the market to meet a variety of capacity and floor space requirements, from high-volume products ideal for bulk storage to slim upright or chest units that maximize capacity in a small footprint.
 
Additionally, keep in mind that many ULT freezers need a certain amount of clearance at the front and back of the unit to allow for adequate ventilation, which may catch some people off guard when planning how units fit into their lab space. Some ULT freezers, however, do not have any ventilation clearance requirements for the left and right sides of the equipment. Be sure to plan for ventilation requirements from the start.
 
My Green Lab and the I2SL organize a free annual competition called the International Laboratory Freezer Challenge, which emphasizes sustainable lab cold storage management, including ULT freezers. The competition promotes efficient inventory management, offering tools like sample management templates. Applying these practices helps ensure you don’t over-purchase capacity, helping optimize both freezer selection and utilization.
 
2. Prioritize reliability
 
The impact of frequent ULT freezer breakdowns and repairs is hard to overstate—from a higher-than-anticipated total cost of ownership and increased risk of ruined samples and products, to severe operational disruption. It’s no surprise, then, that reliability should be top of mind in your ULT freezer search.
 
Many ULT freezers are designed with technologies to ensure smooth operation throughout their lifecycle, such as backup systems that maintain functionality during service events.
 
While checking features is important, to maximize the chance of selecting the most reliable equipment, we recommend looking for ULT freezers from equipment providers with a strong reputation and reliability. Consult colleagues or repair technicians for insights on frequently failing models, and browse forums for additional feedback (keeping in mind such sources may vary in reliability).
 
The ability of a ULT freezer to maintain a uniform temperature and recover quickly after door openings is essential for preserving sample quality. These performance metrics are important when selecting a ULT freezer.
 
Understanding and comparing temperature uniformity and recovery claims, however, isn’t always easy: testing practices and conditions can understandably vary on account of the lack of standardized industry guidance, claims may cover product families rather than individual units, and definitions can sometimes be unclear. For example, differences in ambient testing temperatures, chamber fullness, or the number of temperature probes used can affect results. It can lead to different temperature gradients between the unit interior and the exterior environment, and, consequently, different temperature deviations and recovery times, even when the door is open for the same duration.
 
That said, ENERGY STAR® testing results (if a company has them) can help provide an unbiased one-to-one comparison of temperature recovery results. To help with comparisons, ENERGY STAR® and ACT Ecolabels offer independently verified data on performance and energy efficiency. Reviewing these certifications can help provide clarity and confidence when evaluating freezers. You can review the ENERGY STAR testing results for ULT freezers in ENERGY STAR’s regularly updated spreadsheet of test results.
 
4. Pay attention to the potential lifetime cost of equipment
 
Budget restrictions can all too often influence purchasing decisions for equipment such as ULT freezers. But while choosing a lower-cost (and potentially lower-quality) ULT might help reduce capital expenditure and help purchasing teams meet spending goals on paper, it could, in fact, lead to a much higher cost overall.
 
For example, evaluate additional charges for maintenance and warranty coverage for parts and labor. Perhaps most importantly, though, you should consider the potential impact of more frequent breakdowns on your lab—including the time researchers have to take away from research to transfer samples to a working unit. Frequent breakdowns can necessitate early replacement, significantly increasing expenditure.
 
In many cases, investing in higher-quality ULT freezers with a balance of reliability and affordability is more cost-effective over time. To help minimize lifetime costs, the Freezer Challenge encourages implementing proper freezer maintenance protocols, such as defrosting and temperature monitoring, to extend the operational life of the equipment and prevent unexpected expenses.
 
5. Scrutinize sustainability credentials
 
Reducing the environmental impact of research is becoming an increasing priority for many labs. But it’s not just the planet that benefits from greener ULT freezer technology and design—laboratories do too.
 
Unsustainable ULT units can negatively impact your lab in ways that aren’t always obvious. For example, ULT units that consume more electricity to maintain the same level of performance likely expel relatively more heat into the lab space, which can put more stress on HVAC systems, as well as increase the temperature recovery time of the ULT unit (owing to a larger difference between the ULT chamber temperature and the ambient temperature). The elevated strain on both the HVAC system and the ULT unit may even lead to premature failure, which can be costly and disruptive.
 
Before making a purchasing decision, thoroughly review a freezer’s sustainability and energy efficiency claims. Independent certifications like ENERGY STAR® provide trusted performance and energy consumption data, helping you compare products. ACT Ecolabeled products also offer additional environmental impact insights. Together, these tools ensure you select a freezer that balances performance, efficiency, and sustainability, supporting your lab’s operational and environmental goals.
 
Making the right decision when it comes to ULT freezers
 
Selecting the right ULT freezer is crucial for preserving valuable samples and minimizing risks. To maximize the chance of making the right decision for your lab, be sure to consider your capacity requirements and available floor space. Also keep in mind the unit’s reliability, temperature recovery, and uniformity performance, the potential lifetime cost of the purchase, and the unit’s energy efficiency.
 
By thoroughly assessing these factors, you can select a dependable unit that supports your lab’s operations while mitigating potential disruptions. Resources like the International Laboratory Freezer Challenge, which provides tools for inventory management and energy efficiency insights, can further support your decision-making process. 
 
A note from our sponsor and the author of this article:
 
To help labs make informed decisions about ULT freezers, PHCbi offers a range of advanced options designed for reliability and performance. The TwinGuard® Series features dual refrigeration systems that work independently to maintain ultra-low temperatures, ensuring sample integrity even during service events.
 
Additionally, PHCbi ULT freezers, including the VIP® ECO freezers, use innovative heat exchanger technology to provide uniformity and stability, even in high ambient temperatures. Unlike many ULT models, all PHCbi brand ULT freezers do not require ventilation clearance on the sides, allowing for more flexible placement in the lab.
 
PHCbi also emphasizes sustainability, with ENERGY STAR®-certified freezers that combine efficiency with performance.
 
Learn more about PHCbi’s ENERGY STAR® Certified Preservation Products or register for a lunch-and-learn session to explore how these freezers can meet your specific needs.

In 2023, Biogen became the first large biotech company to achieve 100% My Green Lab Certification across all its laboratories, setting a new standard for sustainability in the biotech industry. By improving efficiency and reducing waste, water, and energy consumption, Biogen has been decreasing its environmental impact and advancing its commitment to sustainability.
 
Biogen’s sustainability efforts reflect the company’s aspiration to foster a healthier, more sustainable future for all. "Employees recognize the link between human and environmental health," emphasized Biogen’s President and CEO Chris Viehbacher. Biogen’s collective commitment to sustainability and focused effort enabled them to achieve certification for every lab through the My Green Lab program two years before its target.
 
The Path to 100% Certification
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“Biogen has embraced sustainability as a core element of our operational priorities,” said Katie Woodward, Interim Head of Sustainability. “Given rapidly evolving stakeholder expectations, we regularly monitor and act on a range of sustainability concerns. We believe this can help improve efficiency and address the interests of customers, employees, regulators and other stakeholders. Our commitment to the My Green Lab program is part of our broader ambition.”
 
The certification effort began with a focused pilot program involving a small group of labs across the Research and Development (R&D) and Product and Technology Development (PTD) functions. The early success of this initiative laid the foundation for broader adoption. “Biogen laboratory teams showed enthusiasm in the My Green Lab Certification pilot. Based on my colleagues’ interest and desire to make our labs more sustainable, we brought the program to leadership to ensure we had global commitment,” said Tooba Gilani, Senior Associate II, EHS (Site Environmental Compliance Lead), who spearheaded Biogen’s My Green Lab work. “Along with driving energy efficiency in our labs, this work has led to other environmental projects and motivating many of my colleagues,” Gilani said.
 
To achieve full implementation, Biogen established a Core Committee to guide the process. This committee, along with Lab Ambassadors who volunteered to lead the implementation of the program in their individual labs, played a crucial role at key steps in the certification process.

Implementing Sustainable Practices
 
The My Green Lab Certification process begins with a Baseline Assessment Survey, where lab members complete a self-assessment on 14 topics that include recycling and waste reduction, resource management, green chemistry and green biologics and infrastructure energy, allowing My Green Lab to identify current best practices and to recommend additional sustainability actions. Labs then implement these recommendations over several months before retaking the survey to measure their progress. Based on the progress, labs receive an overall score and a certification level, along with new recommendations for ongoing improvement.
 
For Biogen, the valuable insights gained from this program have facilitated the development of sustainable solutions targeting energy and water usage, waste management, over-purchasing, and beyond.

Enhancing Education
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To support educational efforts around Biogen’s sustainability practices, the Core Committee created detailed site-specific documents. “To ensure education across laboratories on Biogen’s practices, we created an internal document for each site with common Sustainability FAQs that were found in the certificate assessment, and guided laboratories to review this document prior to certification,” said Gilani.

Lab Ambassador Irene Jenkins, Engineer II, underscored the crucial role of education throughout the process. “I think education was most important to our sustainability efforts,” she said. “Our baseline results were heavily affected by the number of ‘I don’t know’ responses, and just by becoming informed and agreeing on sustainability goals for the lab, we significantly improved our score.”

Energy Savings

“A few actions come to mind which improved our certification score compared to our baseline. One action was to audit our lab instruments to identify and label equipment that could be set to stand-by mode or unplugged to reduce the energy demand of idle equipment,” noted Jenkins. “Additionally, our freezers were placed on a scheduled defrost rotation to optimize efficiency.”

Waste Reduction

Understanding proper waste reduction strategies has helped Biogen find ways to reduce, recycle, and reuse. Laboratory changes include switching from single-use plastics to reusable glassware, recycling Styrofoam and soft plastics, and reusing biotainers for Stack Smashing Protector (SSP) buffers.
 
“Another action was to research vendor recycling programs and improve signage on appropriate recycling practices,” said Jenkins.

Improved Purchasing

Biogen’s team learned practical lessons throughout the certification process that will help drive future decisions, including more widespread understanding of how to read ACT Eco Labels and how to use Energy Star to inform purchasing decisions. “This will help us buy materials with a smaller environmental footprint and equipment that uses energy more efficiently,” said Jenkins. “Additionally, one focus group was tasked with researching then presenting resources available to guide informed purchasing decisions.”
 
As a result, one Biogen lab in Cambridge, Massachusetts, began using Biotix pipette tips, which contain 30% less plastic than other products, and adopted Polycarbin as a solution for the closed-loop recycling of single-use scientific plastics such as pipette tip boxes. This resulted in the recycling of approximately 411 kilograms of plastic in just seven months. The team is now helping to share this information with colleagues in other labs to encourage its widespread adoption.

Navigating Challenges
 
The journey toward certification was not without its challenges. One of Biogen’s key obstacles was the differing and complicated nature of its labs. Each lab has unique functions and processes, and some have strict operational standards that are difficult to modify for sustainability purposes. “In those labs, we focused on what we could change toward sustainability rather than what we couldn’t,” noted Gilani. Through education, communication, and the implementation of best practices learned through the My Green Lab Certification program, sustainability became a priority every lab could work towards—while maintaining strict standards for safety and quality, among other considerations.
 
For Jenkins, awareness was the key to changing lab practices. "Our largest challenge was a lack of awareness, which could lead to default behavior," she explained. “For example, regular freezer defrosts and coil cleaning was not a consistent proactive maintenance activity for us; instead, it was a reactive strategy when a freezer would fail. By becoming aware of a more effective cadence for freezer defrosts and maintenance to ensure optimal freezer efficiency, we are now proactively preventing failure events.”
 
Through monthly check-in meetings and feedback loops between lab leaders, Jenkins and her team ensured that all members remained informed and active. "By sharing the responsibility to make change, everyone stayed engaged in the initiative," said Jenkins.
 
Cultural Shift Towards Sustainability
 
Biogen's certification journey resulted in significant advancements in sustainable lab operations, directly contributing to the organization’s corporate climate goals and demonstrating that change is achievable. "The parameter I am most proud of is 100% engagement from my lab in this initiative," said Jenkins. “Every member of the lab ended this project more informed and having helped build our target sustainability practices.”
 
Marielle Thorne, Manager, R&D Lab Operations, highlights how the certification process unveiled new sustainability opportunities. "Early expectations were that we might look at recycling waste or maybe purchasing greener products. As we progressed, we discovered many areas we had not thought about as being part of our sustainability goals,” Thorne said. “Now 100% of the lab’s freezers are at -70,” she continued.
 
The My Green Lab Certification process not only led to substantial improvements but also catalyzed a cultural shift. Jenkins recalls the achievement lab members felt upon receiving their certification plaques: "You could feel a sense of pride in the effort and changes that took place to reduce our footprint on the planet," she said.
 
Lessons Learned and Future Impact

​The program not only resulted in immediate environmental benefits but cultivated a lasting cultural commitment to sustainability. As Thorne observed, "We have learned that there is a strong desire within the scientific community to drive sustainable change. They are engaged, willing to make the change, and explore new solutions for sustainability."
 
Furthermore, Gilani highlighted the program’s significance: “My Green Lab Certification has been at Biogen for four years now and 100% of labs have completed the certification program. This dedication has showcased that Biogen is committed to sustainability at the lab level, and employees have clear spaces to talk about goals and projects related to sustainability through the culture that has been built over the years,” she concluded.
 
The success of Biogen’s My Green Lab Certification initiative has established a significant benchmark within the biotech industry. Not only are 100% of Biogen’s labs certified, as of publish date, 56.7% of the company’s labs achieved Green status, the highest certification level possible.
 
"Biogen’s pivotal milestone demonstrates how a coordinated, collaborative effort can drive transformative change in laboratory sustainability,” said Scott Grant, Vice President of Certifications, My Green Lab. “This achievement reflects Biogen’s leadership and commitment to integrating sustainable practices across their operations and serves as a powerful example for the entire industry.”

The biotech and pharma industry plays a pivotal role in advancing global health, but as a significant contributor to climate change, its environmental footprint cannot be ignored. My Green Lab’s 2024 Carbon Impact of Biotech & Pharma Report highlights progress while calling for deeper systemic changes as the industry approaches a pivotal moment in its sustainability journey. As climate goals become more urgent, biotech and pharma companies are uniquely positioned to drive by decarbonizing their supply chains and aligning with global climate targets.
 
The report, produced by My Green Lab with contribution from Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), indicates that the industry has reached a tipping point — with over 25% of companies setting medium-term Scope 1 and 2 targets aligned with a 1.5°C pathway. Released during COP 29 in November 2024, the study highlights notable successes, including more companies than ever before adopting the UN Race to Zero. Additionally, a majority of companies in the campaign have made progress on the Breakthrough Outcome by adopting My Green Lab Certification, with nearly three-quarters of those programs operating on a global scale.
 
Despite significant progress, the report finds that long-term progress hinges on targets expanding to include Scope 3, the indirect emissions from upstream and downstream a company’s value chain. Expanding these targets to include the hard to measure and reduce Scope 3 emissions are essential to ensure alignment across the industry and supply chain to a 1.5°C trajectory
 
This year's report builds on previous reports starting in 2021 which were the first to assess the entire biotech and pharma value chain by quantifying Scope 3 emissions. This year’s report, which leverages data from 638 publicly listed companies and 290 privately held companies, tracks emissions since 2015, offering the comprehensive overview of the industry's carbon footprint and its alignment with the Paris Climate Agreement.

Key Findings and Industry Progress
 
Emissions Challenges and Commitments
 
The 2024 report highlights both significant progress and challenges in emissions reduction across the biotech and pharma sectors. Among the 149 biotech and pharma companies with high-quality emissions data, 31% have set medium-term Scope 1 and 2 targets (2026–2035) that are aligned with a 1.5°C pathway. However, to fully meet climate goals, it is critical for companies to expand these targets to include Scope 3 emissions, which cover indirect emissions throughout the value chain.
 
The report also reveals a concerning emissions footprint across the industry. Total emissions from public companies amounted to 259 million tCO₂e, while private companies accounted for 138 million tCO₂e, bringing the total to 397 million tCO₂e in 2023. Scope 3 emissions, which encompass indirect emissions from purchased goods and services, are a major challenge. These emissions are significantly higher than Scope 1 and 2, being 5.4 times greater for public companies and 6.5 times greater for private companies.
 
Industry Progress and Initiatives
 
The growing commitment to the UN Race to Zero Campaign is a positive indication of progress. The study found that leading companies are accelerating their sustainability commitments, with 36 companies—representing 56% of the sector’s revenue—joining the UN’s Race to Zero campaign, up from 28 companies (46% by revenue) in the previous year. The campaign’s Breakthrough Outcome target is also within reach, with 61% beginning My Green Lab Certification programs, 73% of which are operating at a global scale.

​​As the report highlights, Scope 3 emissions make up 79% of indirect emissions, underscoring the critical role of supply chain innovation in achieving climate goals. In response, the industry has launched a suite of collective supply chain initiatives aimed at addressing Scope 3 emissions, which have shown significant progress over the past year. Programs such as Converge, Activate, and Energize are driving decarbonization by engaging suppliers to adopt renewable energy, improve operational efficiency, and pursue sustainable lab practices.

​Why Download the 2024 Report?
 
The 2024 report offers a strategic guide for biotech and pharma companies to align with a 1.5°C future. It highlights key challenges, celebrates progress, and outlines actionable solutions for reducing emissions across the value chain. Whether you're a scientist, lab manager, policymaker, or executive, this report provides essential insights to drive sustainable science.