19 January, 2026
Pictured: Members of the Green Lab Committee.
Several Laboratory Medicine Departments have recently achieved My Green Lab certification, an international accreditation that recognises environmentally friendly lab practices. This certification shows that our labs are taking meaningful steps to reduce energy use, cut waste and adopt safer, more sustainable ways of working. Depending on how many sustainability measures are in place, labs are certified at different levels, ranging from Bronze to Green.
The National MRSA Reference Department was awarded green certification, the highest that can be achieved. The Microbiology Department achieved the Platinum certification and four others; Cancer Molecular Diagnostics, Histopathology, Immunology and Haemostasis Molecular Diagnostic achieved gold. Each department has developed and implemented an improvement plan based on feedback, with the longterm aim of reaching Green certification.
Clinical laboratories play a crucial role in patient care, but they also have a heavy environmental footprint. Globally, labs use up to five times more energy than office spaces and generate over 5.5 million tonnes of plastic waste each year. In 2024 alone, the Clinical Pathology Laboratory produced 70 tonnes of clinical waste.
Recognising the need to reduce this impact, our Green Labs Committee set out to achieve My Green Lab certification. The initiative focuses on two main goals: reducing energy use and reducing waste. This effort reflects our commitment to making healthcare more sustainable and lowering the hospital’s overall consumption.
“We pursued this accreditation because labs use significant amounts of energy and plastics, and we knew we could improve, for our patients, our staff and the planet. This was about taking meaningful action on climate and reducing our environmental footprint.
“This certification reflects our commitment to sustainability, reducing waste, conserving energy and driving real change. It’s a testament to staff dedication and their effort to protect the environment.”
- Gráinne Brennan, Chief Medical Scientist and Green Labs Committee Chairperson
What’s Changed So Far?
A number of simple but effective actions have already made a real difference:
Energy-saving reminders
Signs have been placed on major lab equipment and lighting systems, showing when it is safe to switch them off. This helps avoid unnecessary energy use outside working hours.
Staff education and training
The team has introduced training sessions, guides, and other resources to help staff follow more sustainable practices, such as proper waste sorting and simple ways to save energy.
Improved recycling
New green recycling bins have been added throughout the labs, making them easier to find and encouraging correct recycling. This has reduced the amount of recyclable material ending up in clinical waste bags.
More efficient equipment
Older fridges and freezers have been replaced with modern, energy-efficient models that use significantly less power while still meeting all safety and temperature standards.
Building-wide improvements
The team is also working closely with the Facilities Management Directorate to improve heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems across the building, helping reduce energy use over time.
Áine Murphy, Microbiology Department and Green Labs Committee Representative added “We’re committed to achieving the Green Lab accreditation for each lab within our directorate. We’ve already put a plan in place, and each Department is working in tandem to empower and educate our colleagues so collectively we can make our workplace more sustainable.”
My Green Lab is a non-profit organization with a mission to build a global culture of sustainability in science. The organisation is dedicated to promoting safe, sustainable practices in research laboratories, while preserving the integrity of the science.