The Next Frontier for Laboratories - Going Green

1. 13th APFCB Congress, Bali, 28 Oct 2013 The Next Frontier for Laboratories - Going Green Joseph Lopez Associate Professor and Head, Dept. of Biomedical Sciences, MAHSA University Kuala Lumpur

2. Objective of this talk To create an awareness of the environmental impact of clinical laboratories

3. Laboratory Human activity Greenhouse gases Global warming and climate change Labs have a societal responsibility to reduce the environmental consequences of their activities

4. Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Sept 2012; 50(9):1559-64

5. Content • Causes of global warming • Evidence for global warming • Why labs are a source of global warming • Environmental policy for labs • Guidelines for good environmental practices

6. Causes of Global Warming

7. Greenhouse Gases • Greenhouse gases cause global warming • Notably: • carbon dioxide – ~80% • methane • nitrous oxide • fluorinated gases • Greenhouse gases trap the sun's rays within the Earth's atmosphere • Sources of greenhouse gases: • energy production, • deforestation, • agriculture • waste disposal http://www.whatsyourimpact.eu.org/main-greenhouse-gases.php

8. Energy and Greenhouse Gases Energy production Production and use of energy is the primary cause of global warming CO2 Global warming http://www.globalchange.gov/publications/reports/scientific-assessments/us-impacts/climate-change-impacts-by-sector/energy-supply-and-use http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/gw-causes/

9. Evidence that atmospheric CO2 has increased since the Industrial Revolution (Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA) http://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/

10. Is Global Warming Happening? There is scientific consensus on the basic facts of global warming There is scientific consensus on the basic facts of global warming • Earth has been warming for 100 years • Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2007, the reported that 11 of the 12 warmest years since 1850 occurred between 1995 and 2006 • The most respected scientific bodies have stated that: • global warming is occurring • people are causing it • The most respected scientific bodies have stated that: • global warming is occurring • 2. people are causing it http://www.edf.org/climate/how-we-know-the-earth-is-warming http://www.edf.org/climate/global-warming-facts

11. Global Temperature, 1850-2000 • Temperature records since 1850 show: • warming of the Earth over the past century • particularly rapid heating over the past few decades http://www.edf.org/climate/how-we-know-the-earth-is-warming

12. Impacts from Rising Temperatures • Floods and droughts more common • Less fresh water available • Rising sea levels • Climate change • Ocean acidification • Changes in ecosystem

13. Shrinking ice sheets • Global warming has effect on the world’s ice masses such as: • mountain glaciers • ice sheets covering West Antarctica and Greenland, • Arctic sea ice Flowing meltwater from the Greenland ice sheet http://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/

14. Shrinking ice sheets • The Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets have decreased in mass. • Greenland and Antarctica decreased at least 150 cubic kilometersa year since 2002 and 2006 Flowing meltwater from the Greenland ice sheet http://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/

15. Ice is melting worldwide, especially at the Earth’s poles. Summertime sea ice cover over the Arctic Ocean is also declining, and in some areas this ice cover is thinning rapidly. Source: Economist, June 16-22, 2012

16. http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/files/2012/06/Figure3.png The National Snow and Ice Data Center Advancing knowledge of Earth's frozen regions449 UCB  University of Colorado  Boulder, CO 80309-0449

17. Source:Guardian Arctic sea ice has plummeted to its lowest levels ever this year (2012) Photgraph: Steven J Kazlowski/Alamy; Source: Guardian 28 June 2012

18. Source: Economist, June 16-22 2012 Source: Daily Telegraph, 19 Nov 2009 Source: Economist, June 16-22, 2012

19. Denver Glacier in Recession 1912 1938 1958 Glacial retreat Most mountain glacier regions are in decline. Glaciers are retreating in the Alps, Himalayas, Andes, Rockies, Alaska and Africa http://nsidc.org/news/press/day_after/q2.html

20. Rise of Sea Level, 1860-2008 • Global sea level rose about 17 cm (6.7 in.) in the last century. • However, the rate in the last decade is nearly double that of the last century. http://www.edf.org/climate/how-we-know-the-earth-is-warming

21. Ocean acidification • Increased human activity has increased CO2 emissions into the atmosphere which is absorbed into the oceans. • Since start of the Industrial Revolution, the acidity of surface ocean waters has increased by about 30%. http://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/

22. Changes in Ecosystems • Adélie penguins on Antarctica: • from 32,000 breeding pairs to 11,000 in 30 years. • Some butterflies, foxes, and alpine plants • have moved farther north or to higher, cooler areas. • Polar bears: since the mid-1980s, • polar bears have gotten considerably skinnier, with less ice on which to live and fish for food • If sea ice disappears, the polar bears may as well. • Some diseases will spread, such as malaria carried by mosquitoes Source for climate information: IPCC, 2007

23. Energy Consumption of Laboratories

24. Global Medical Labs Market • Global Medical Laboratories Market to Reach US$102 Billion by 2018 (Global Industry Analysts, Inc.) • http://www.prweb.com/releases/medical_laboratories/clinical_laboratories/prweb9693406.htm (accessesd 3 Nov 2012)

25. Energy Usage of Laboratories • Labs are energy intensive • Labs use 5 to 10 times more energy per square foot than an average office building US EPA states that Labs can reduce energy use by 30 to 50%

26. Guidelines to reduce environmental impact

27. Survey of IFCC members on the mitigation of the environmental impact of laboratories December- January 2010

28. Environmental policy COMMITMENT Initial costs offset by long term savings Support of senior management Announce Environmental POLICY

29. Elements of an Environmental Policy • Corporate Social Responsibility – to include responsibility on stewardship of the environment • Minimise / eliminate activities which impact environmental • Minimise consumption • Reduce waste through the reduction, reuse or recycling of materials. • Implement good waste management systems for pathology waste • Reviewenvironmental practices at least annually. • Commitment to heighten environmental awareness • Provide staff education • Advocacy: encourage customers, suppliers and other stakeholders to mirror commitment to environmental responsibility.

30. Create awareness Create awareness Create awareness Create awareness Create awareness Create awareness Create awareness Create awareness Create awareness Create awareness Create awareness Create awareness Create awareness Create awareness Create awareness Trainng Trainng Trainng Trainng Trainng Trainng Trainng Trainng Trainng Trainng Training Trainng Trainng Available legislation Available legislation Available legislation Available legislation Available legislation Available legislation Available legislation Available legislation Available legislation Available legislation Available legislation Action Plan Preliminary environmental review Preliminary environmental review Preliminary environmental review Preliminary environmental review Preliminary environmental review Preliminary environmental review Preliminary environmental review Preliminary environmental review Preliminary environmental review Preliminary environmental review Preliminary environmental review Preliminary environmental review Preliminary environmental review Preliminary environmental review Audits Audits Audits Audits Audits Audits Audits Documentation Documentation Documentation Documentation Target setting Target setting Target setting Target setting Target setting Target setting Target setting Target setting Target setting Target setting Target setting Target setting Target setting

31. Environmental Management System Plan Continuous improvement Do Act Check

32. Integration of EMS with QMS • Principles, procedures for EMS and QMS are same • EMS and QMS should be integrated EMS ISO 14001 QMS ISO 15189

33. Raise awareness Staff Training Ways of reducing environmental impact Identify areas of waste reduction Reward workable ideas

34. Lab Environmental Manager • Appoint a Lab Environmental Manager to be in-charge of the EMS • Initially, an existing staff member  • Should work closely with QMS manager

35. 3Rs – Reduce, Reuse, Recyclemain pillars of efforts for environmental improvement Each activity to mitigate environmental impact will come under one or more of these headings.

36. 3Rs – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Reduce consumption of energy, natural resources and unsafe products. • Reuse • Reuse as much as possible before replacing • Replace as far as is possible, with reusable items. • Recycle • ensure items/components are put to new purpose as much as possible • recycling program should be financially sound

37. Some Proposals for Mitigation of Environmental Impact

38. Green purchasing policy Purchase goods, services: • that minimize negative environmental impacts • From suppliers who share lab’s commitment to environment Recycled products Packaging Recyclable products Locally produced (where possible) Ordering patterns Transportation Manufacturing Disposal Less toxic

39. Equipment selection • Factor in the environmental impact of the equipment at evaluation • Purchase energy-efficient equipment • Priority to equipment with a lesser environmental footprint in regard to: • Water consumption. • air-conditioning or heating requirements

40. Reagent selection Where possible use • Alternatives to reagents with harmful ingredients. • Use smaller test kits - less packaging which require less refrigeration • Locally produced reagents - smaller carbon footprint when transported

41. Packaging wastes • Persuade disposal contractors to provide reusable containers for the disposal of laboratory sharpes. • May be achieved by the use of Stericycle® bio boxes (in USA) • A pilot study at Harvard Medical School saved 2,026 lbs of plastic from reusable sharp bins. Sharps Disposal Container for Stericycle

42. Packaging wastes • Labs • produce large amounts of solid wastes • should reduce solid waste volume Where possible negotiate with vendors to: • Use less packaging • use biodegradable or recyclable packaging • take back packaging for reuse. • Labs may reuse packaging boxes for sending out items

43. Laboratory furniture Where possible purchase: • used or reusable laboratory furniture • environmentally-friendly furniture. Thermo Scientific Hamilton Distinction® II Adaptable Laboratory Furniture System. Constructed from environmentally friendly materials and manufacturing processes

44. Reducing energy usage and wastage • Laboratories consume more energy per square foot, often x5 as much compared with non-laboratory buildings such as offices. • Clean-rooms: consumption can be is 10-100-times higher.

45. Lighting in Labs • Lighting in laboratories is up to x2 that of a typical office space. • Lighting energy use typically accounts for 8% to 25% of total electricity use • Use LED lighting http://www.i2sl.org/documents/toolkit/bp_lighting_508.pdf,accessed 3 Nov 2012

46. Fume Hoods • Use enormous amounts of energy • Typical fume hood (USA) that runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year uses X3.5 more energy than the average house. • New models allow significant energy reduction. Source: http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~epsgreen/labs.html

47. Recycling of Solvents • Recycling of solventsXylene, alcohol, formalin by CBG Biotech Supreme Solvent Recycler • 90-95% recovery • Cost-savings Xylene, alcohol benchtop recycler; 10 L CBG model *Courtesey, Badrick T, Sullivan Nicolaides, Australia

48. Good Practices • Daily “end of day” lab and office walk-throughs - to manually close lights equipment, instruments. • Chiller/heat temperature and humidity controls - adjust according to the seasonal demands. • Analytical equipment and processes: shut down when not in use • Regular equipment maintenance • Consolidate equipment and instruments of different units of the laboratory where feasible.

49. Transportation • Vehicles • select fuel-efficient fleet vehicles • review routes and usage Staff encourage and provide incentives to laboratory staff to use public transport or bicycles

50. Reduction • Reduction of test numbers • audits of tests requested and their usefulness to identity unnecessary requests • Reduction in the use of collection tubes • Reuse of specimen collection bags • Paper managementto reduce usage • Waste reduction • Water Usage