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About the ACT Label
Research labs are resource-intensive. Buildings with labs consume 5x more energy than office buildings and can use millions of gallons of water per year. It was estimated that labs discarded over 12 billion pounds of plastic in 2014; that doesn't include the gloves, hazardous waste, and other waste - including packaging waste - discarded from labs on a daily basis. Put another way, at research universities, lab products can account for 25% of the total amount of money spent on goods annually. The opportunity to reduce the environmental impact of labs through smarter purchases is tremendous. The ACT label is the premier eco-nutrition label for laboratory products, including consumables, chemicals, and equipment. By emphasizing accountability, consistency, and transparency (ACT) around manufacturing, energy and water use, packaging, and end-of-life, ACT makes it easy to choose safe, sustainable products. ACT-labeled products are independently audited by SMS Collaborative and verified by My Green Lab. The criteria for the ACT label, also known as the Environmental Impact Factor (EIF) criteria, were developed with industry input. Scientists, sustainability directors, procurement specialists, and manufacturers provided valuable feedback on the EIF criteria, resulting in the most comprehensive product labeling program for life science products. Reading the ACT label is simple: the lower the score, the lower the impact on the environment. Most categories are rated on a scale of 1-10; for more information about how to use the label click here. |
The ACT Team |
SMS Collaborative (SMS) and owner Annie Bevan, has over 10 years of experience working with organizations to develop processes, procedures, and standards to analyze and certify various sustainability claims in products, buildings, and within manufacturing operations. SMS represents a unique expertise in contributing to the development and robustness of numerous prestigious programs such as the International Living Future Institute’s Declare and Living Product Challenge certifications and the USGBC’s LEED rating system. Annie Bevan is widely regarded within the marketplace as an expert in third-party verification and sustainable program development. SMS has a true passion to make sustainability more simple and will be conducting the Environmental Impact Factor Assessments to ensure stringency and integrity in all ACT label assessments.
My Green Lab is fundamentally and permanently improving the sustainability of scientific research. A 501c3 non-profit, My Green Lab was formed to unify and lead scientists, vendors, designers, energy providers, and others in a common drive toward a world in which all research reflects the highest standards of social and environmental responsibility. Run “for scientists, by scientists”, My Green Lab leverages its credibility and track record to develop standards, oversee their implementation, and inspire the many behavioral changes that are needed throughout the scientific community. My Green Lab’s Green Lab Certification Program is recognized throughout North America as the standard for laboratory sustainability. It has been adopted by public and private institutions alike, and has been used to certify over 100 labs since the program’s inception in 2014. My Green Lab also led the successful effort to establish ENERGY STAR standards for laboratory refrigeration products – the first ever laboratory product category to be recognized by the EPA’s ENERGY STAR program. Having established behavioral standards through the Green Lab Certification Program, and energy standards with the EPA, My Green Lab sees a clear need to address the gap in sustainable procurement for all laboratory products. |
ACT Label Participants |
Scientists, procurement specialists, and sustainability directors across the United States are working together to make sustainable procurement in labs a reality. We are currently working with our partners to implement the ACT label into procurement platforms at universities and biotech companies.
Life science manufacturers are critical to improving laboratory sustainability. The following manufacturers and vendors sell ACT-labeled products:
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