it’s time to act. - massachusetts institute of technology · $428 million ‘tail spend ......
TRANSCRIPT
sustainable
procurement in
laboratories:
it’s time to ACT.
allison paradise, executive director
California-based 501c3 non-profit
building a culture of sustainability through science
areas of focus
waterenergy chemicalsdisposal
disposal
energy
water
chemicals
did you know...?
labs consume up to
more energy than offices
1 ULT Freezer
= 1 average U.S. household
1 Fume Hood
= 3.5 average U.S. households
a typical lab building uses
gallons of water each year
cooling tower, 42%sanitary, 12%
lab processes, 25%
but it doesn’t need to be this way
the opportunity to influence procurement in labs
$4.4 billion spent on goods at the University of California in 2016
$701 million spent on life sciences
$428 million ‘tail spend’
eco-labels
eco-labels
but ENERGY STAR only goes so far…
a nutrition label for laboratory products
addresses a need of scientists, procurement specialists, and manufacturers for increased transparency
and reduced environmental impact of laboratory products
ACT.The Environmental Impact Factor Label
the process
manufacturer provides documentation
audited by Sustainability Made Simple
verified by My Green Lab
label issued
manufacturing impact reductions
• has the manufacturing facility implemented any new practices, technology, or initiatives within the process which resulted in the reduction of energy, water, or waste in the production of the product over the past five years?
• does the facility manufacturing the product utilize renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind) to produce the product?
responsible chemical management
• MSDS and/or SDS and Chemical CASRN of product and/or raw materials from supply chain
shipping impact
• address of manufacturing facility and address of US headquarters
product content
• does the product contain any sustainable content? i.e. recycled content; bio-based content
packaging content
• does the packaging material contain any sustainable content? i.e. recycled content; bio-based content
energy consumption
• energy usage of product from spec sheet
• picture of energy meter while product in use and in standby mode
• certificate of calibration for energy meter
water consumption
• water usage for product from spec sheet
• picture of water flow meter while product in use and in standby mode
product lifetime
• spec sheet on durability of product (lifetime use)
• case study on product durability
• internal prediction of obsolete or useful life
product end-of-life
• take-back programs, recycling, incineration, landfill, etc
packaging end-of-life
• take-back programs, recycling, incineration, landfill, etcc
in practice
ACT
• Eppendorf
• MilliporeSigma
• Priorclave NA
• Thermo Fisher Scientific
pilot program participants
Thermo Fisher Nalgene PESFilter Units
MilliporeSigma beta-Amylase
Eppendorf CyroCube ULT Freezer
Priorclave 320L Autoclave
Priorclave 320L Autoclave
get involved!
• ask for the label from your vendors
• use the label to inform purchasing
decisions
