We’ve seen some interesting decisions made in the name of efficiency lately.
One that’s made recent headlines as a target for scrutiny is scientific research. From cancer to asthma to dementia, funding has been pulled for research efforts based on real and perceived claims of inefficient work and wasteful spending.
While there’s plenty of room to debate this approach to decision-making, there is some truth to the claim that scientific research labs have room for improvement.
Studies have shown that research laboratories are among the most resource intensive spaces in the world. On average, they use 10x more energy than office spaces and four times more water, and they generate approximately 5.4 billion kilograms of plastic waste annually.
Not great.
So how do researchers and lab managers address the budget-conscious and efficiency-minded while addressing their funding needs?
They change their habits.
Finding A Sustainable Solution
It needs to be stated that most scientific waste isn’t intentionally created. It’s borne out of tradition, routine, and protocol. Many labs use practices that have been in place for a long time.
That said, the “This is how we’ve always done it” argument just isn’t going to cut it.
My Green Lab is one organization that’s championing better research practices. Their focus is to improve efficiency and sustainability efforts while limiting waste. They help research labs worldwide overcome that age-old argument to find new practices committed to sustainable science.
Their goal is to empower labs with a lasting approach to research that doesn’t compromise the integrity of its work while improving the way it’s done. Innovation and advancement doesn’t have to come at the planet's expense.
Charting a New Path Forward
The best way to create change is to provide the guidance it takes to get from here to there.
Enter My Green Lab Certification. It’s seen global adoption since its inception in 2013, improving the efforts of more than 100 different organizations across over 3,400 labs.
The certification process is straightforward:
- Assess Impact: Labs perform a baseline assessment to understand the current state of their sustainability.
- Enhance Efforts: Labs receive tailored recommendations based on their assessment to implement new practices and reduce waste.
- Show Savings: With their impact calculator, My Green Lab helps researchers detail the cost savings they’ll see from the practices implemented. A clear view of ROI.
- Verify the Work: The all-important step for certification is third-party verification of a lab’s efforts through documentation and reporting.
Spaces that earn certification are required to submit for recertification every 2 years. In that time, My Green Lab helps researchers support continuous improvement efforts and track their progress.
The Future of Scientific Research
To overcome the newfound scrutiny in research, there has to be a culture shift. A change in the way labs are run to negate criticisms of wasteful spending, high overheads, and negative environmental impacts.
My Green Lab, and organizations like it, are committed to seeing a future where research is both sustainably performed and funded. While their vision is lofty, they’re well on their way to redefining how research is done.
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