Environmental Initiatives: Science-Based Targets
One industry trend is setting science-based targets for emissions. As established by the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and the Science Based Targets initiative, direct and indirect emissions targets are categorized into Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3.
Scope 1 focuses on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions that are a direct result of a company's activity, such as its facilities and vehicles, while Scope 2 focuses on indirect emissions associated with the electricity, steam, heating, and cooling a company purchases.
Scope 3 focuses on indirect emissions associated with supply chains and transportation—according to McKinsey & Company estimates, about three-quarters of emissions by the pharmaceutical industry fall under Scope 3.
"Scope 3 emissions are often out of the direct control of a business, such as emissions at suppliers," according to Sarah Dowdall, Program Director of Sustainability at Corning Life Sciences. "To reduce Scope 3 emissions, labs need to work with vendors that prioritize sustainability."
Corning has committed to emissions reduction and is tackling Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions through energy efficiency at manufacturing plants, renewable energy installation, and vendors to reduce emissions in Corning's supply chain.
Design for Sustainability: Integration of Sustainable Attributes in Product Design
To achieve true sustainability, innovations are needed across the life sciences industry. Many life sciences vendors are developing and using alternative materials and products that incorporate sustainability in their designs.
Sustainable-by-design principles include the use of reusable products, reduction in packaging use and hazardous material use, minimization of resource use, and easy-to-recycle products. For example, Corning has designed flasks that use less plastic, laboratory cooling racks that use less energy, and cell culture intensification products that reduce the per-unit use of media and plastic.
Stewardship: The Importance of Responsible Resource Management
Considering the high energy and plastic consumption of many laboratories, reduce, reuse, and recycle are the three basic principles that the sustainable life sciences industry needs to apply throughout the stages of research operations, product development, product design, and manufacturing.
Some life science companies, including Corning, are now offering take-back programs that help laboratories reduce their packaging waste by allowing them to return plastic packaging, tip racks, styrofoam, and film paper to the manufacturer. An advanced sustainability goal is to move toward a circular model, which involves designing products that can be recycled easily or that are made of recycled materials.
Additionally, Dowdall recommends, "Consider seeking outside expertise on how your lab can be more sustainable. For example, My Green Lab can help you find actionable ways to improve the footprint of your lab."
Meeting Sustainability Goals with Corning
The importance of working toward a truly sustainable life sciences industry should not be understated. Laboratories everywhere need to work with both internal stakeholders and external vendors to support their progress toward sustainability. Learn more about how Corning can support your sustainability goals.
