Sustainability Office
Your hub for sustainability on the St. George campus.
Sustainable labs
Sustainable labs program
The Sustainability Office consulted with students, faculty, and staff to create a comprehensive guide that provides lab users with the tools they need to create sustainable behaviours within and beyond lab settings.
The certification form is divided into six sections:
- Energy Conservation
- Water Conservation/Management
- Waste Reduction
- Chemical Management
- Procurement
- Lab Culture
Ready to get certified?
Have you reviewed the steps above and are ready to get certified? Click the button below to start.
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Who can certify?
The certification is intended to be completed by authorized lab personnel. For example, lab managers, technicians, or Principal Investigators.
Certification
Bronze
20–45% of available points scored
Silver
46–65% of available points scored
Gold
66–84% of available points scored.
Platinum
85% + of available points scored.
The Sustainability Office welcomes any comments or suggestions on program content.
Getting started
Before starting the certification form, review Program highlights for recommended actions.
Need more information on how to improve sustainability practices in your lab? Check out the Resources page for information on best practices.
- Fume hood sash procedures are implemented.
- Unneeded/unused fume hoods are hibernated.
- Freezer clean-outs are conducted frequently.
- Freezer temperatures are adjusted to appropriate temperatures.
- Equipment and materials are shared between labs.
- Unused equipment is unplugged.
- Equipment uses timers are manually shut off when not in use.
- Reminder stickers and posters are displayed in the lab (e.g. shut off lights, turn off monitors).
- Water conservation initiatives are taken (e.g. installing aerators on faucets).
- Corrosive and hazardous materials are collected for disposal.
- Dishwashers are only run when full.
- Gloves are used only when necessary/appropriate or thinner gloves (whenever safe) are used.
- Packaging is reused when shipping from the lab.
- Plastic use is minimized and replaced with glass or other materials.
- Chemical waste prevention is prioritized.
- Least energy-intensive chemical route is chosen for experiments.
- Best practice procurement guides are consulted prior to ordering new lab materials/equipment.
- Sustainable equipment and materials are purchased.
- Equipment and materials are sourced from vendors that reduce packaging/use sustainable packaging.
- Energy and rebate programs are utilized.
The Sustainability Office welcomes any comments or suggestions on program content.
Lab best practices
Energy
Freezer management
- Purchase energy efficient equipment
- Conduct freezer clean-outs annually to avoid overcrowding
- Ensure the freezer has enough ventilation space, and clean dust off the coils at the back of the freezer
- Adjust the setting of the freezers from -80C to -70C, if -80C conditions are not needed
- Sharing cold rooms offers better energy performance, back-up emergency power, heat recovery, and more efficient use of space
Fume hoods
- Sash is shut when not in use to contain substances
- Conduct regular spot-checks to ensure that lab users implement proper fume hood sash closing behaviour
- Request for unneeded or unused fume hoods to be hibernated
Lighting and power
- Utilize multi-outlet strips in workspaces to reduce miscellaneous plug loads
- Disconnect unused equipment to reduce electrical plug load
- Turn off laboratory equipment when not in use, especially anything with a heating function (e.g. heating blocks, microscopes)
- Use timers on equipment so that they automatically turn off when not in use
- Utilize “power-down” and “lights out” reminder stickers on laboratory computers and beside light switches
Water
- Immediately report leaky faucets to building maintenance
- Shut off taps when not in use
- Utilize low flow aerators on faucets
- Only run dishwashers at full capacity
- Limit the production from reverse osmosis distilled water systems to what is needed for research
Waste
- Use glassware instead of plasticware
- Purchase from vendors that reduce their packaging or use more sustainable packaging
- Invest in long-lasting items and equipment that will not have to be replaced frequently
- Create inventory management checklists to avoid spoilage or over purchasing
- Collaborate with other labs to share resources such as unused equipment, reagents/chemicals, or consumables
- Recycle items that cannot be reused. Provide resources for proper recycling (i.e. washing instructions and acceptable items)
Chemicals
- Prioritize the prevention of chemical waste
- Minimize the use of temporary derivatives
- Design chemicals that degrade and can be discarded easily
Procurement
- Take advantage of energy/appliance rebate programs for appliances and equipment
- Consult energy efficient procurement purchasing guides, if applicable
- Use the 4-R hierarchy (refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle) before purchasing, and consider lifecycle thinking when selecting research equipment or laboratory supplies
General resources
Useful links
Terracycle Glove recycling program: https://www.terracycle.com/en-CA
UofT EHS Website: https://ehs.utoronto.ca/
Lab procurement tips: https://www.labmanager.com/business-management/tips-and-resources-for-maximizing-your-lab-spend-2191
National Renewable Energy Lab: Reducing Office Plug Loads through Simple and Inexpensive Advanced Power Strips: Preprint (nrel.gov)
Freezer Management-ULT freezers: https://www.energy.gov/eere/femp/purchasing-energy-efficient-laboratory-grade-refrigerators-and-freezers
Fume Hoods information: https://www.mcgill.ca/sustainability/files/sustainability/sustainable-labs-guide-final-2017.pdf
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a collection of 17 global goals designed to be a “blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all”. The SDGs were set up in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly and are intended to be achieved by the year 2030.
The Sustainability Office welcomes any comments or suggestions on program content.
Get certified!
Ready to get your lab certified? Follow these easy steps!
- Review the program overview, highlights and resources tabs
- Click the ‘Get Certified’ button below
- Sign in using your UTORid to launch certification form and follow the instructions
- Submit the form and await review and confirmation from the Sustainability Office
- Receive your certificate package (certificate, badge/ribbon and quick resource guide)
- Review your results and program resources to improve your score next year!
Please complete the form in one session (form cannot be saved part-way). We recommend you use a laptop or desktop to complete the form.
Note: Certification is valid for one year, and the program will be updated/improved annually to ensure alignment with sustainability best practices.
The Sustainability Office welcomes any comments or suggestions on program content.
Our sustainability partners