A Blueprint for More Sustainable Labs

The rising demand for sustainable lab solutions

While research is synonymous with innovation and discovery, it comes with a hefty environmental cost. Behind almost every experiment lies a lab powered by energy-consuming equipment and single-use materials. Additionally, labs can require vast amounts of water, chemicals, and other finite resources, contributing to a significant environmental footprint.

As sustainability becomes a key focus of organizations, governments, and regulatory bodies, lab managers face a growing requirement: finding solutions that balance environmental responsibility and quality. In response, the market for “greener” products has grown. To make informed decisions and avoid greenwashing—misleading or false claims about a product’s environmental benefits—lab managers are increasingly seeking comparable third-party certified information and ecolabels.

To that end, manufacturers have begun to rethink how lab products are designed and marketed.

Framework for sustainable lab design

Traditionally, lab products have followed a linear model, where they are purchased, used, and disposed of. Recognition of the waste generated by this approach has sparked increased interest in a more circular economy, which emphasizes recycling, reuse, and waste reduction, with products and their components being designed to remain in circulation for as long as possible. Additionally, the global transition to a low-carbon economy is driving many organizations to set science-based targets and seek suppliers who prioritize sustainability in their operations and offer solutions that support carbon reduction and circularity.

To meet these demands, manufacturers can benefit from considering environmental impact early in the design process and across a product’s entire life cycle.

Product design and development

Creating a more sustainable product begins with thoughtful design, as these early decisions influence both performance and environmental impact throughout the product’s life cycle. Material selection plays a central role in this process. Traditionally, manufacturers have prioritized materials that maximize performance and minimize costs. Though these considerations remain essential, sustainable design introduces a new focus: selecting materials that lessen environmental impact and protect human health. This involves prioritizing renewable, recyclable, and non-hazardous materials. Reducing reliance on hazardous chemicals also alleviates regulatory burdens and supports long-term resource availability.

Design choices that reduce waste, such as incorporating reusable components instead of single-use consumables, take this further. Designing for durability, repairability, and modularity extends product lifespan, reduces waste, and decreases replacement frequency, all while providing long-term value.

Sourcing and procurement

For many companies, Scope 3 emissions—those indirectly generated from upstream and downstream activities—constitute their largest share of emissions. To address this, manufacturers should evaluate suppliers based on their environmental practices, ensuring alignment with sustainability goals.

The origin of materials also impacts a product’s environmental footprint. Procuring sustainably produced, recycled, or renewable materials helps conserve finite resources and lower emissions from raw material extraction and production. For example, biobased plastics—made from second-generation waste (crops, plants, or waste not suitable for human or animal consumption) and residue oils—can reduce carbon footprints compared to fossil fuel-based alternatives. These materials are also chemically and molecularly identical to conventional plastics, eliminating the need for revalidation or retesting. Additionally, sourcing materials locally or regionally can reduce transportation-related emissions.

Streamlining procurement processes is another effective approach. Consolidating orders and purchasing in bulk can cut shipment frequency and excessive packaging, contributing to more efficient and greener supply chains.

Manufacturing

Energy efficiency is a cornerstone of more sustainable manufacturing. Facilities can adopt renewable energy sources like solar and wind power alongside energy-efficient technologies, including LED lighting and advanced equipment, to lower their carbon footprint. These measures can also lead to cost savings and improved operational efficiency, benefiting both the environment and the bottom line.

Lean manufacturing, which emphasizes waste reduction and efficiency, further supports sustainability. This can include using recyclable materials to divert waste from landfills and implementing closed-loop systems, where waste is properly disposed of or reintegrated into the production cycle.

Packaging and transport

At this stage, the focus shifts to minimizing packaging material and the emissions produced during distribution. Replacing non-recyclable materials with recyclable or compostable alternatives reduces the environmental footprint. Similarly, decreasing package size and weight improves shipping efficiency, lowering fuel consumption and increasing shipment capacity. Adopting reusable or returnable packaging, such as shipping crates, creates a circular system that cuts down on single-use materials.

Use and maintenance

The use and maintenance stage represents a product’s operational life and impact on users and the environment. While manufacturers play a crucial role in ensuring lab equipment is energy-efficient, these benefits cannot be fully realized without the active participation of lab managers and their teams. For instance, operational adjustments like setting ULT freezers to -70°C instead of -80°C, when possible, can greatly reduce energy consumption and running costs. Labs can also participate in initiatives like My Green Lab’s Freezer Challenge, which promotes best practices in cold storage management, such as regularly defrosting freezers, implementing sample inventory systems, and retiring or unplugging underperforming units.

Durability is equally important for sustainability. Long-lasting products require fewer repairs and replacements, conserving resources and decreasing waste. However, durability must be complemented by preventative maintenance and proper care to ensure optimal performance.

End of life

In a circular economy, recycling, reuse, and repurposing are prioritized, with reuse providing the greatest opportunity for retaining value. Strategies such as repair, refurbishment, and resale keep products in circulation longer and greatly diminish the need for new resources.

When products can no longer be reused, return or take-back programs become essential. These initiatives allow manufacturers to recover valuable components for reuse or remanufacturing. Remanufacturing involves rebuilding products for resale or redeployment using reused, repaired, and new parts. For components that can’t be reused or remanufactured, recycling remains an option.

From concept to reality

The Thermo Scientific™ TSX Universal Series ULT freezers are a strong example of how sustainable design can reduce environmental impact without compromising performance.  

Lowering carbon footprint: Traditional ULT freezers use hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants, which are powerful greenhouse gases. The TSX Universal Series replaces these with non-HFC refrigerants, decreasing global warming potential and enhancing cooling efficiency. Additionally, the foam insulation has zero global warming and ozone-depleting potential and is water-blown, minimizing chemical emissions and outgassing. Manufacturing also occurs regionally to decrease transportation emissions.

Increasing material circularity: Up to 70 percent of materials used are recycled steel and aluminum. Most units are manufactured in zero-waste facilities, diverting over 90 percent of the waste into recycling or other reprocessing streams. Additionally, packaging material is locally sourced and made of corrugated cardboard—with 43 percent recycled content—and polyethylene foam planks—with 60 percent recycled content.

Improving energy efficiency: Variable-speed compressors and universal V-drive cooling technology ensure temperature stability and reduce energy consumption by 33 percent compared to legacy models. These freezers are also ENERGY STAR™ certified.

Extending life: The TSX Universal Series platform undergoes rigorous testing for long-term reliability and performance. This is supported by a 12-year warranty, which exceeds the typical lifespan of ULTs by two years. As a result, 17 percent fewer units are produced, shipped, and disposed of annually.

The value of transparency in sustainability

As demand for more sustainable lab products grows, lab managers are increasingly seeking comparable, third-party-validated information and ecolabels to help integrate environmental considerations into their purchasing decisions. These tools also help them steer clear of greenwashing or false and unsubstantiated claims.

To identify potential greenwashing, look for vague or misleading language, such as “eco-friendly” or “green.” Additionally, if a company can’t back up its claims with supporting data, lab managers should proceed with caution. For example, a claim that a freezer “saves energy” is far less meaningful than one specifying a verified percent reduction in energy use.

Third-party certifications, such as the My Green Lab^® ACT^® Ecolabel and the US Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR^® label, offer a reliable way to certify environmental claims, supporting informed decision-making. The ACT Ecolabel scores products on a scale from one to ten—the lower the score, the lower the environmental impact—across factors like product recyclability, energy use, and manufacturing practices. Similarly, ENERGY STAR tests products against rigorous energy efficiency criteria.

Embracing more sustainable innovation

Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Greener by design™ program integrates sustainability early in the development process, delivering solutions that enhance circularity and reduce carbon footprints—helping lab managers achieve their sustainability goals. Thermo Fisher also prioritizes transparency by aligning with industry standards and emphasizing the use of third-party ecolabels. Each greener product is backed by green fact sheets and third-party certifications, supporting informed decision-making.

Thermo Fisher is committed to advancing sustainability both inside and outside the lab. They actively participate in My Green Lab initiatives, including ACT Ecolabeling for over 300 products, green lab certification for over 50 facilities, and sponsorship of the Freezer Challenge. Beyond the lab, they have implemented a Supplier Code of Conduct and supplier engagement program to reduce environmental impact. This includes working with suppliers responsible for 90 percent of their Scope 3 emissions to set climate-related, science-based targets by 2027.

By embedding more sustainable practices throughout the product life cycle and collaborating with sustainability leaders, Thermo Fisher is working to help reduce the environmental footprint of lab equipment and operations across the scientific community.

To learn more, visit thermofisher.com/CSR