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Written by Jazmine Stenger-Smith, Sustainability Certifications Manager, Impact Laboratories  As sustainability becomes increasingly vital, My Green Lab Certification provides a structured, effective framework for labs to implement and measure meaningful changes to reduce environmental impact. Central to the success of the certification process, which is designed to engage scientists and lab professionals, is the Lab Lead—a key champion who takes on the responsibility of guiding their lab through the certification process, spearheading sustainability initiatives, and helping build a culture of continuous improvement within their organization. A Lab Lead coordinates sustainability efforts by overseeing the My Green Lab Certification criteria. They are responsible for engaging their team, administering the My Green Lab Certification surveys, tracking progress, facilitating discussions, and developing action plans. Their role is essential in ensuring that sustainability efforts recommended by the My Green Lab Certification program are seamlessly integrated into the daily operations of the lab. While leading these initiatives requires dedication, it also provides many benefits, including valuable professional and personal growth opportunities. “Being a Lab Lead has allowed me to expand my knowledge and awareness of sustainability programs. It has helped me connect with people that I otherwise might not have connected with, and I’ve gotten better at stepping out of my comfort zone,” said Micah Stoltz, Operations Manager and My Green Lab Certification Lab Lead at the University of Colorado Boulder. In organizations with multiple labs signed up to My Green Lab Certification, an Organization Admin helps coordinate efforts across multiple lab teams. For many, the experience of serving as a Lab Lead or Organization Admin not only deepens their knowledge of lab sustainability but also strengthens leadership, problem-solving, and collaboration skills, helping drive measured change throughout the My Green Lab Certification process. Transforming Lab Sustainability Through My Green Lab Certification 2.0 My Green Lab Certification provides scientists and lab teams with actionable ways to implement sustainable practices without compromising ongoing research. The program assesses current lab operations, identifies areas for improvement, and helps teams reduce their environmental impact. The recent My Green Lab Certification 2.0 update introduced groundbreaking tools and processes to make the certification process more interactive and measurable. Updates include third-party verification for greater credibility, streamlined engagement surveys for a smoother experience, and an Impact Estimator tool to track and measure progress. My Green Lab Certification 2.0 also includes a real time dashboard that shares a lab’s projected certification level and score.  Key features of My Green Lab Certification 2.0 Jasmine Stewart, Quality Control Sustainability – HSE Programme Manager and My Green Lab Certification Organisation Lead at AstraZeneca, highlighted the impact of this update: “The new version of the certification supports our strategy to engage and reinforce our proactive sustainability culture by making it easier for employees to complete. Additionally, being able to monitor completion in real-time through the streamlined survey was vital to getting high engagement across all of our teams – we achieved 100% survey completion across all of our supply and manufacturing QC labs!”
As My Green Lab Certification continues to evolve, the roles of Lab Lead and Organization Admin remain essential in ensuring its success. While taking on these roles requires initiative and organization, they also offer valuable career opportunities—all while making a measurable impact on lab sustainability. The Benefits of Being a Lab Lead or Organization Admin 1. Sustainability Knowledge Both Lab Leads and Organization Admins gain in-depth knowledge of sustainability in laboratory settings, learning how to implement practical solutions that benefit both their workplace and the environment. This includes best practices for reducing energy and water, minimizing waste, and optimizing resources, among others. “There are some recommendations by My Green Lab that I wasn’t very familiar with, such as my campus’ use of renewables and the science behind composting,” said Micah. “Since our certification, I’ve become more familiar with composting in particular, as that’s one of the larger sustainability projects my department has implemented.” 2. Networking and Collaboration Becoming a Lab Lead or Organization Admin opens doors to new professional connections within and beyond the organization. Stepping into the role offers opportunities to create connections with internal and external stakeholders not typical in day-to-day operations, present sustainability data at conferences and industry events, and connect with like-minded professionals who share a passion for sustainability. “The qualities that would allow a Lab Lead to succeed are the ability to organize and have patience, perseverance, and motivation. In my experience, you’ll invariably face setbacks on some level, but don’t be discouraged!” said Micah. “A Lab Lead should connect with people who share their goals. Even better if they’re in positions that can influence positive change!” 3. Leadership and Professional Development A Lab Lead is responsible for guiding their team through changes that occur in the lab, ensuring certification completion, and building a team of colleagues committed to sustainability. Managing and tracking these changes helps develop key leadership skills such as project management and decision-making. “We’ve found that the Lab Lead programme is a fantastic opportunity to develop leaders within our labs,” said Jasmine. “People who want to see change, can listen to their teammates’ ideas and provide direction. Those who love project work do well in the role of Lab Lead. They practice how to lead a team, manage different priorities and improve their business exposure and network.” As an Organization Admin acts as the main point of contact for multiple labs going through the process, coordination and clear communication are essential to keeping teams aligned and certification efforts on track. Many Lab Leads and Organization Admins also leverage their experience for career advancement as experience can be added to PD plans as well as resumes and LinkedIn. Here’s an example of how Lab Leads can showcase this experience on their resume:
4. Organizational and Problem Solving Skills Acting as a Lab Lead provides a valuable opportunity to develop organizational skills and problem-solve. By coordinating the certification process, Lab Leads plan and implement sustainability initiatives and ensure that changes are seamlessly integrated into daily lab operations. Managing these responsibilities demonstrates strong time-management and problem-solving skills, and the ability to oversee complex projects. “Being a lab lead helped me learn more about the obstacles facing the realization of sustainability projects,” said Micah. “It doesn’t mean these barriers can’t be overcome, but it does mean that you sometimes have to get creative in your solutions. One thing I’ve learned from my experience is that having and connecting with people who share your goals can make a world of difference. My Green Lab is a fantastic resource for that!” 5. Making an Impact Perhaps the most rewarding aspect of being a Lab Lead or Organization Admin is the ability to drive real environmental change. By leading the My Green Lab Certification process, individuals foster sustainable habits, implement best practices, and help cultivate a community of passionate individuals committed to making a lasting impact. Through My Green Lab Certification 2.0’s Impact Estimator tool, carbon and cost estimates of changing behaviors are tracked in real time. Micah shared that he is proud of the University of Colorado Boulder’s composting program. “It was very much a multi-departmental effort to set up our program to compost soiled animal bedding on campus, which has diverted 180+ tons of material from landfills since we started. It is the biggest ‘green’ achievement my department has made so far, aside from becoming My Green Lab certified.” Jasmine highlighted several sustainability initiatives that have made a meaningful impact at AstraZeneca, stating, “Our Switch-Off Optimisation Programme [SWOOP, an initiative aimed at reducing energy consumption in laboratories] and our Shut the Sash initiative [which focuses on promoting the closure of fume hood sashes when not in use], have been readily adopted as part of our teams’ sustainable behaviors.” Leading the Way in Sustainable Science Becoming a Lab Lead or Organization Admin for the My Green Lab Certification process is a rewarding experience that develops leadership, sustainability knowledge, expands professional networks, and drives real environmental change. Micah summed it up, saying: “The My Green Lab Certification process provides a lot of great suggestions and guidance on ways to make an impact. I love working with different groups and people with different knowledge, skillsets, and backgrounds. Being a Lab Lead has enabled me to connect with a variety of folks, and I love hearing everyone’s expertise and perspective.” Comments are closed.
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