Summary
Details
- Global
My Green Lab Certification is not legally mandatory.
It can become practically required where:
A company requires certified sustainable labs.
A university sustainability program requires it.
A biotech or pharma buyer expects lab sustainability evidence.
A grant, partnership or tenant program references green lab certification.
A corporate net zero plan includes lab operations.
A supplier or research partner requires certified lab practices.
In most cases, My Green Lab Certification is voluntary and used to improve laboratory operations and demonstrate sustainability performance.
Deep dive
- What’s Required
- 1. Laboratory participation and baseline assessment
- 2. Certification pathway
- 3. Independent verification
- 4. Certification levels
- 5. Continuous improvement
- Important Deadlines
- Current Status
- Penalties for Non-Compliance
- 1. Certification refusal
- 2. Lower certification level
- 3. Loss of credibility
- 4. Contractual consequences
- 5. Operational inefficiency
- Examples of Known Violations / Failure Modes
- Resources
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What’s Required
1. Laboratory participation and baseline assessment
Participating labs typically begin with an assessment of current laboratory practices.
Relevant areas may include:
Energy use.
Water use.
Waste generation.
Chemical management.
Procurement.
Cold storage.
Equipment use.
Ventilation practices.
Freezer management.
Lab member behavior.
Reuse and recycling practices.
2. Certification pathway
My Green Lab Certification 2.0 was developed with input from an expert steering committee and feedback from more than 3,000 labs in 49 countries that used version 1.0.
Laboratories may need to:
Complete a sustainability assessment.
Identify improvement actions.
Engage lab users.
Implement best practices.
Provide evidence where requested.
Undergo review or verification.
Track improvement over time.
3. Independent verification
My Green Lab states that it partners with Impact Laboratories to independently verify certification results. Its governance materials also state that each certification program includes third-party verification aligned with ISO 17065 principles and developed with input from Assurance Services International.
4. Certification levels
The certification recognizes different levels of laboratory performance. Public examples show labs receiving levels such as Green Level Certified Lab under My Green Lab Certification 2.0.
Labs should make claims only for:
The certified laboratory.
The correct certification level.
The current certification period.
The applicable program version.
The specific location or department certified.
5. Continuous improvement
Laboratory sustainability changes as technologies and best practices evolve. External program descriptions encourage labs to reapply because sustainable laboratory practices are dynamic and new technologies can redefine best practices.
Important Deadlines
My Green Lab Certification is voluntary, so there is no universal legal deadline.
Important timing points:
My Green Lab Certification 2.0 is the current program version referenced in public certification materials.
Certification timing depends on lab assessment, improvement actions, verification, and certification review.
Labs should verify the current program version and claim rules before using certification in reports or marketing.
Recertification or reapplication may be relevant where labs want to maintain current sustainability status.
Current Status
My Green Lab Certification is active and global. It is used by academic, healthcare, biotech, pharmaceutical, research, and industrial laboratories. My Green Lab describes it as a trusted certification for sustainable laboratories and notes global adoption across thousands of labs.
Current status:
Active global laboratory sustainability certification.
Current public program: My Green Lab Certification 2.0.
Includes independent verification.
Relevant to research, healthcare, biotech, pharma, and industrial labs.
Focused on operational sustainability and behavior change.
Recognized by the UN Race to Zero campaign as a key measure of progress toward a zero-carbon future.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
My Green Lab Certification does not impose statutory penalties.
Possible consequences include:
1. Certification refusal
A lab may fail to achieve certification if practices or evidence are insufficient.
2. Lower certification level
A lab may receive a lower level if fewer sustainability practices are implemented.
3. Loss of credibility
Sustainability claims may be challenged if certification is outdated or applied beyond the certified lab.
4. Contractual consequences
If certification is required by an institution, partner, tenant, or buyer, failure may affect eligibility.
5. Operational inefficiency
Labs may continue to face high energy, water, waste, and procurement impacts without structured improvement.
Examples of Known Violations / Failure Modes
Typical failure modes include:
Claiming certification for an entire institution when only some labs are certified.
Using outdated certification status.
Confusing lab certification with product certification.
Treating certification as proof of regulatory compliance.
Overstating emissions reductions.
Ignoring freezer and cold storage energy use.
Not engaging lab users.
Failing to update practices after equipment or process changes.
Making claims without independent verification.
Applying one lab’s score to multiple sites.
Resources
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