Reducing theEnvironmental
Footprint of Research
Global lab sustainability survey sheds
light on progress towards greener labs

Science and technology are key to a more sustainable future. However, research labs can beresource and energy intensive, with many labs using a lot of water and energy, so it can bechallenging to reduce this without affecting operations. Additionally, the sourcing, manufacture,and disposal of specialized analytical instruments and consumables also have an environmental
footprint. Even so, the future is looking bright, with many labs already taking steps to create asustainable lab.

82% of labs surveyed have already adopted and are82%

using sustainability metrics to help achieve their goals.
92% manage
resource
consumption

87% reduce global
greenhousegas/carbon emissions

Actions labs are already taking to reduce theirenvironmental footprint72%

of labs areworking to reduce
their carbonand global
greenhousegas emissions

68%

60%

are improving
waste
management
techniques

are optimizing
water andenergy
consumption

Areas that labs have not yet fully addressed intheir bid to reduce their environmental footprint

ONLYof labs surveyed are working to 		improve lab efficiency andoptimization of resources

27%

ONLY of labs surveyed are

12%focusing on sustainableprocurement and better
management of lab analytical instruments

Benefits labs see to being more environmentally conscious

67%

of lab managers stated that the most 		common reason for being positive aroundsustainability was improved efficiency of the labLabs are genuinely keen to makea change for the greater good65%

of labs managers are enthusiastic forthe sake of ensuring safety from a health,nature, and environmental perspective

Although willing to significantly reduce their environmental
footprint, some barriers remain

7%

Only 7% of labs are currently
increasing funding forsustainability initiatives,indicating a real need to findalternative, cost-effective
solutions36%

36% of labs do not yet
believe that they have had
medium to high levels of
success in meeting theirsustainability goals

Reduction is a key action that labs are planning to take toimprove their sustainability efforts

74% plan to continue
reducing carbon andGHG emissions

59% said they will
focus on energy
efficiency

60% want to
reduce waste
generation

Labs know that they cannot fulfill their sustainability
ambitions alone

85%

look to analytical
instrument
manufacturers to support thereductions of emissions, with
innovative product solutions

HOWEVER74%

of labs mentioned 		that they would notconsider a manufacturer if it did
not itself have a documented
commitment to net zero

netzero				“ Labs around the world are waking up to the massive environmental
impact of research, but gaps remain in how to turn commitments andhigh-level goals into action.
Tools like My Green Lab Certification and ACT help turn aspirations
into action in labs and lab supply chains.”— James Connelly,		

7850 ICP-MS

BIO

7850 ICP-MS

BIO

Agilent’s Sustainability Solutions https://www.agilent.com/about/esg/en/Agilent and My Green Lab https://www.agilent.com/about/mygreenlab/en/index.html
Survey Methodology
The lab sustainability survey was commissioned by Agilent and conducted by Frost & Sullivan. The survey
included 500 online survey interviews conducted with managers in analytical laboratories in China, Germany,
United Kingdom, and the United States.
This information is subject to change without notice.
© Agilent Technologies, Inc. 2023
Published in the USA, DE62689446

CEO at My Green Lab