Reaching for sustainability in industry labs: Dr. Kristi Budzinski

CU Boulder research buildings are responsible for more than 40% of campus building energy consumption. Research is a critical practice that allows for innovation and scientific breakthroughs; laboratories are necessities for this. Energy is just one of the resources consumed in substantial amounts within research on campus. These issues reach beyond university into industry. As awareness about this grows, many scientists are facing it head-on.

Dr. Kristi Budzinski currently works for Roche, where she is a product stewardship lead for Molecular Systemsworks. Roche is a global pioneer in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics, focused on advancing science to improve peoples' lives. Before working at Roche she worked for Genentech, an American biotechnology corporation dedicated to developing medicines for serious or life-threatening illnesses. Her role was to minimize the environmental impact of Genentech's scientific, engineering and manufacturing activities. Throughout her career, she has led countless conversations on the importance of the conservation of resources and connecting industry research to sustainable practices.

Budzinski was the lead author of a paper called "Streamlined life cycle assessment of single-use technologies in biopharmaceutical manufacture." She evaluates the best ways to reduce the environmental impact of single-use technologies (SUT). Additionally, she is a member of the American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute Pharmaceutical Roundtable, where she continues to reach beyond her role at Genentech to other corporations and encourage green chemistry and other sustainable practices within the role of research. The United States Environmental Protection Agency defines green chemistry as, "the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances." The goal is to keep the harmful substances used in chemistry from needing to be used. Budzinski’s passion for sustainability furthers the knowledge of green chemistry that can be used in teaching labs such as general chemistry, organic chemistry and upper-level research. Scientists like Dr. Kristi Budzinski are the driving force behind reducing the negative impacts of laboratory research and are remarkable in doing so.