Create sustainable strategy in laboratory

As providers and distributors of fine chemicals, at DC Fine Chemicals, we are committed to a service that focuses on environmentally friendly actions. Therefore, we believe it’s important to have a laboratory sustainability strategy outlining the steps to follow in all activities.

Five hundred laboratory directors located in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and China participated in a survey focusing on sustainability. The study revealed that over 80% of the participants are already adopting sustainability metrics and implementing measures to improve their environmental footprint.

Insights from the article

Neil Rees, ESG Program Director and Vice President of Workplace Services at Agilent Technologies, along with James Connelly, CEO of My Green Lab, delve into the importance of aligning personal values with sustainability goals in laboratories, as well as making decisions based on sustainable guidelines. Here are some highlights from their recent interview.

Neil Rees starts by emphasizing the role of our planet and future generations, stating that sustainability is the most viable and socially responsible option. This entails conserving resources rather than taking them for granted, leading to improved efficiency, cost savings, and supporting laboratory success, as seen at DC Fine Chemicals. This pursuit drives the search for new ways to handle and use products.

To achieve this, it’s essential to start with various metrics to evaluate environmental, economic, and social impacts beforehand. Processes should be monitored regularly to extract results and adjust strategies that align with objectives: reducing greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, water usage, and increasing recycling.

James Connelly echoes Rees’s sentiments, adding that focusing on sustainability is crucial for the laboratory team. By aligning with the organization’s overall goals, it’s much more likely to gain acceptance and support from the entire laboratory team.

General considerations

Both experts point out that behavioral changes and organizational culture are often overlooked. While technical and operational changes are essential, addressing the human aspect of sustainability is equally important, significantly impacting the success of initiatives.

Laboratory directors have significant influence due to their technical expertise and essential role in collaborating with other departments. Therefore, it’s important for them to advocate for sustainability as a cross-cutting principle and demonstrate active commitment through their actions, leading by example. Change begins with raising awareness among the entire team, gradually building a culture based on sustainability and environmental care, integrating environmentally friendly practices into daily laboratory operations proactively.

As mentioned earlier, metrics should be monitored annually or biennially. These metrics should be integrated into annual financial and other objective-setting processes, reflecting data such as the laboratory’s efficiency, performance, productivity, or energy consumption of specific instruments.

Study conclusions

After hearing from these two experts, one conclusion is clear: there needs to be a balance between being an effective, efficient, and competitive laboratory and, of course, considering the planet. This premise is precisely what we work on daily at DC Fine Chemicals.

Our strong commitment to sustainability and environmental management extends across all areas of operation. While our activities may impact the environment, DC Fine Chemicals primary purpose is to minimize it through responsible practices where sustainability remains central.

Therefore, our environmental policy outlines several points based on which we carry out daily actions as distributors of fine chemicals:

Strict compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations, including all relevant programs.
Emphasis on efficient resource and energy management, reducing waste and emissions.
Defining objectives for continuous improvement in our products and services based on environmental criteria.
Providing transparent and detailed information about our activities to clients, employees, shareholders, etc.
Encouraging active participation internally in sustainable practices.
Supporting innovative methodologies and processes that promote sustainability and reduce the impact of our actions.

Learn more about our work on the DC Fine Chemicals website or reach out to us for specific inquiries at [email protected]. We would be delighted to speak with you and address any questions you may have.

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