A-200 Certification of the First UN Recognized Green Lab Sustainable Blood Bank in Chicago

Background Recognized by the United Nations* “Race to Zero” campaign, which emphasizes the urgent need to work towards a zero-carbon future, the “Green Lab Certification” is considered an emerging global gold standard for laboratory sustainability and best practices. Transforming a blood bank laboratory into a sustainable, green-certified lab is not only an environmentally responsible decision but also a strategic move towards enhancing hospital-system operational efficiency and achieving significant cost savings. Blood banking is a high throughput, high single-usage and waste driver of sustainability analysis. This certification underscores a commitment to reducing the environmental footprint of laboratory operations, aligning with global sustainability goals, and setting a precedent for other medical and research facilities. Methods The My Green Lab Certification Guide and other energy utility metrics reports were incorporated into a comprehensive process of examining and optimizing various aspects of laboratory operations. This included assessing usage and output concerning measurable energy sources, waste levels, HVAC systems, lighting, and other facets of sustainability. Unlike observationally designed studies, this interventional study features a single-arm design without a comparative control group. Therefore, conclusions are drawn from temporal pre- and post-certification changes only, as determined by self-inspection and reported assessment questionnaire results. These results were analyzed in comparison to institutional key performance indicators (KPIs) and other quality metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of the implemented sustainability measures. Results The initial Green Lab certification assessment, which covered sixteen facets of sustainability, involved surveys completed directly by blood bank staff. This assessment reported a bronze level of 46% sustainability, establishing a baseline for the laboratory*s sustainability efforts. Following the implementation of recommended changes and a subsequent reassessment, the laboratory*s sustainability score improved significantly, elevating the certification level. This achievement positions the laboratory as a leader in sustainability efforts within the institution. Additionally, a comparative analysis of energy usage revealed that the laboratory experienced a substantial reduction in energy consumption, contributing to both environmental benefits and cost savings and waste reduction. Conclusion Utilizing the My Green Lab Summary process, which will be provided post-reassessment, we evaluated the expected post-certification improvements relative to the pre-intervention metrics. This evaluation will demonstrate that achieving “Green Lab” certification leads to measurable improvements in sustainability performance. In collaboration with NMH leadership, both within and outside the Department of Pathology, other laboratories can adopt the templates and strategies proposed as a result of this analysis. By doing so, they can join the NMH Blood Bank in becoming global leaders in sustainable laboratory practices. The blood bank*s achievement of Green Lab certification not only establishes it as a leader in green certification within our institution and community but also serves as a catalyst for other laboratory departments to identify and pursue their own sustainability opportunities. This initiative represents a significant step towards a more sustainable future for laboratory operations, setting a benchmark for excellence in environmental stewardship.