The future of scientific labs: how we are making our research more sustainable

The need for climate action is becoming increasingly urgent, and research labs need to be part of the solution. Scientific labs consume large amounts of energy and water and produce significant waste. Globally, scientific research generates over 5.5 million tons of plastic waste annually, which is ~2% of the world's plastic waste. Recognizing the need for sustainability in research, the La Trobe Green Labs program leads this effort in Australia. Since receiving Australia's first "MyGreenLab" certification in 2021, a dedicated steering committee of volunteers has driven successful green initiatives at La Trobe University. The program ensures proper implementation of sustainable practices, enhanced safety and integration with existing operations. More importantly, these small changes will initiate wide-scale and long-term transformations that will improve research into more sustainable options for the future.