In 2019, Ireland became the second country in the world to declare a climate emergency. In an effort to help achieve zero emissions by 2030, large economic sectors are beginning to take action to reduce their carbon footprints.
The medical technology and pharmaceutical industries are some of the largest sectors in the economy. Besides creating advancements in medicine, engineering and science, scientific laboratories also generate a substantial amount of waste. In Ireland, it is estimated that scientific labs produce over six million tons of plastic waste every year. For scale, that’s approximately the size of one of the Great Pyramids of Giza! When comparing individual contributions, each scientist is estimated to discard 15 times more plastic as compared to someone who does not work in a lab. In addition, laboratory buildings produce five to ten times more energy and water than a regular office building.
There are several initiatives and programs that encourage labs to decrease their carbon emissions and waste production. My Green Lab is a non-profit organization that aims to introduce sustainable practices and mindsets into medical, technical and academic laboratories. They oversee several certifications, campaigns and education/advocacy programs that seek to reduce the amount of waste that is produced on a day-to-day basis within the scientific and engineering sphere. One program, the My Green Lab certification, helps scientists reduce waste, minimize costs and preserve resources. The program teaches researchers to adopt sustainability practices related to 14 different topics, including chemistry, water and energy.
