Published: April 2026
Reviewed by:
Matthew Yamatin, Sustainability Program Director, Thermo Fisher Scientific
Sustainability is now a regular part of laboratory procurement, tenders and supplier evaluations. Laboratories are expected to demonstrate not only strong analytical performance and regulatory compliance, but also how environmental considerations are addressed across products, suppliers and workflows.
For laboratories running allergy and autoimmune diagnostics at scale, sustainability decisions must align with high-throughput operations, long-term supply reliability and the consistent delivery of accurate patient results. Environmental considerations cannot come at the expense of performance, quality or continuity of supply.
At the same time, sustainability reporting requirements are becoming more structured and formalized across healthcare, academic and commercial laboratory environments. Institutions increasingly request documented environmental information from suppliers, creating new expectations for transparency and comparability.
The procurement challenge: Comparing sustainability information across suppliers
While sustainability expectations are rising, the way information is presented by suppliers often varies significantly. Environmental data may differ in scope, format, terminology or level of substantiation. This inconsistency can make it difficult for laboratorians and procurement teams to:
- Compare products objectively
- Reference information confidently during tenders or audits
- Align supplier data with institutional sustainability goals
Meeting these requirements can become time-consuming and administratively complex. As a result, laboratories increasingly value suppliers that provide structured, standardized and credible sustainability information that aligns with procurement workflows.
Why standardization and third-party verification matter
Standardization plays a critical role in making sustainability reporting practical and defensible. When environmental information is structured around consistent criteria, laboratories can more easily interpret and compare data across products and suppliers.
Third-party verification adds another layer of confidence. It ensures that environmental information is assessed against defined criteria and communicated transparently, reducing the risk of misinterpretation or reliance on unclear environmental statements.
Together, standardization and verification support sustainability reporting that is:
- Comparable
- Transparent
- Procurement-ready
- Aligned with institutional expectations
In this context, structured frameworks become essential tools for laboratories navigating evolving sustainability requirements.
What is the ACT Ecolabel?
The ACT Ecolabel was developed by My Green Lab®, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing sustainability in scientific research, to address the need for standardized, third-party–verified environmental performance information for laboratory products.
The label was designed to help scientists and procurement professionals access consistent environmental data that supports informed purchasing decisions and sustainability reporting.
Products evaluated under the ACT Ecolabel program are assessed using consistent criteria across key environmental impact categories, including manufacturing practices, energy use, materials, chemical hazards, end-of-life options and facility commitments to environmental improvement. Results are presented in a clear, accessible format that emphasizes accountability, consistency and transparency.
Rather than relying on broad environmental messaging, the ACT Ecolabel provides structured, third-party–verified information designed specifically for laboratory environments.
How the ACT Ecolabel supports procurement and economic, social and governance (ESG) reporting
Where available, the ACT Ecolabel helps laboratories translate sustainability requirements into practical documentation.
It supports laboratories by:
- Providing environmental performance information assessed against standardized criteria
- Offering third-party verification aligned with recognized sustainability frameworks
- Enabling clearer documentation for tenders, audits and procurement reviews
In practical terms, this can help laboratories:
- Reference structured environmental information in sustainability sections of tenders
- Compare products using consistent environmental criteria
- Support internal sustainability or ESG reporting initiatives
- Reduce ambiguity during internal or external audits
- Align product-level information with broader institutional sustainability goals
Because the ACT Ecolabel focuses on structured transparency and verified data rather than promotional claims, it is particularly relevant in regulated laboratory settings where credible documentation is essential.
Integrating sustainability into diagnostics manufacturing
Thermo Fisher Scientific’s sustainability approach is grounded in company-wide environmental priorities and long-term goals, including emissions reduction, increased use of renewable electricity, waste prevention and responsible supply chain practices. These priorities are embedded within the company’s broader ESG strategy and guide decision-making across global operations.
Within diagnostics manufacturing—including allergy and autoimmune solutions—sustainability considerations are integrated alongside performance, safety and regulatory requirements.
For laboratories who offer allergy and autoimmune diagnostics operating in high-throughput environments, this integration is critical. Sustainability initiatives must support:
- Consistent reagent performance
- Reliable instrument–reagent system integration
- Long-term supply continuity
- Operational stability in routine testing workflows
The use of standardized frameworks such as the ACT Ecolabel, where applicable, reflects how broader corporate sustainability priorities are translated into product-level transparency.
By aligning environmental communication with recognized, third-party–verified tools, Thermo Fisher Scientific connects company-wide commitments with the practical reporting needs of laboratories.
Rather than relying on self-defined claims, the focus remains on structured, comparable and verifiable information.
What sets this approach apart
For laboratories managing increasing sustainability expectations, preparedness and structure matter.
Thermo Fisher Scientific’s approach stands out by:
- Aligning corporate sustainability priorities with product-level transparency
- Supporting standardized, third-party–verified environmental reporting
- Connecting sustainability documentation directly to procurement requirements
- Maintaining focus on diagnostic quality, compliance and supply continuity
In allergy and autoimmune diagnostics—where workflows are tightly integrated and testing volumes are continuous—this balance is essential. Laboratories require sustainability information that supports procurement and reporting without introducing operational risk.
By embedding sustainability within diagnostics manufacturing and aligning communication with recognized frameworks such as the ACT Ecolabel, Thermo Fisher Scientific supports laboratories in addressing environmental expectations while maintaining the reliability they depend on every day.
Preparing for evolving sustainability requirements
Sustainability requirements in laboratory procurement are expected to continue evolving. As expectations become more structured, laboratories benefit from working with suppliers prepared to support transparent, standardized reporting.
The ACT Ecolabel represents one way Thermo Fisher Scientific helps laboratories access structured, third-party–verified environmental information that supports procurement requirements, ESG reporting and institutional sustainability goals.
By combining company-wide environmental priorities with product-level transparency and a focus on operational reliability in allergy and autoimmune diagnostics, Thermo Fisher Scientific reinforces a responsible, structured approach designed to meet the needs of modern laboratory environments.
Learn more about laboratory sustainability support
Partner with an allergy and autoimmune diagnostics provider that strengthens compliance and sustainability across your lab operations.
Or speak with your Thermo Fisher Scientific representative to discuss how these tools can support your laboratory’s procurement and reporting needs.
