Category: Diagnostic/Clinical Labs
Level: Gold
Author: Coakley-Burns, A., Nijhof, K.
The Impact: <p>Reduces the environmental impact of the lab's supply chain</p>
Details
Labs will need to work with those responsible for lab procurement in order to achieve this action. It will be important for them to be aware of the sustainability objectives of the lab, so that any new criteria align with these. Labs will also need to incorporate national guidelines into their procurement process, if they have not done this already. For example, in England the NHS Net Zero Supplier Roadmap outlines expectations of suppliers, who are also encouraged to complete the Evergreen Sustainable Supplier Assessment.
Examples of factors that contribute to product/packaging/services having a lower environmental impact:
- Lower energy consumption during manufacturing
- Reduced plastic content
- Reduced use of hazardous substances
- Locally manufactured
- Manufactured from recycled materials
- Remanufactured
- Mode of delivery (e.g. ambient temperature, electric vehicles etc.)
- Lower energy consumption during use
- Lower water consumptions during use
- Longer product lifespan
- Repairability
- Reusability
- Recyclability
- Availability of maintenance/managed service contracts
- Use of refridgerants with lower global warming potential
References
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