Even Biotech and Pharma Companies have Green Labs Now

Green labs programs, which engage scientists to implement actions for efficiency and sustainability in their research, originated in university environments with the first appearing around 2007.  Nearly two decades later, the number of programs at different academic institutions have grown in numbers.  Student researchers in training who have been exposed to these university programs have graduated and moved on in their careers, bringing with them best practices learned, spreading green labs to their new places of employment.  Additionally, nonprofits such as My Green Lab and the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories (I2SL) have shared the best practices identified by early university Green Labs Program widely throughout the research enterprise including companies with their own research labs. 

Last year, at the 2024 International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories (I2SL) conference, two companies, Gilead and Aztrazeneca, presented on green labs at their companies. Furthermore, many biotech and pharma companies have committed to the UN Race to Zero campaign.  In fact, according to the 2024 My Green Lab Carbon Impact of Biotech and Pharma Report “36 companies (56% of the sector by revenue) have committed to the campaign, an increase from 28 companies (46% of the revenue)” the year prior, with “61% of the Pharma and Med Tech companies in the campaign having starting My Green Lab Certification”.  

With growing attention by biotech and pharma companies (and other science companies) on  actions for efficiency and sustainability in research processes and operations, participation in efforts at CU Boulder to reduce the footprint of your own research, your lab’s research, and research in your lab buildings could be of benefit resume building for your next career move. Reach out to CU Boulder Green Labs if you want to get more involved and, in particular, consider leading your lab on My Green Lab Certification which is being offered at CU Boulder this academic year: greenlabs@colorado.edu.