What is an ACT label?

The ACT label is similar to a nutrition label, but for lab products.

Products are assessed and scored on a number of different environmental impact factors (EIFs) such as product recyclability, energy use, and sustainable manufacturing practices.

How do I read an ACT label?

Reading the ACT label is simple: the lower the score, the lower the impact on the environment.

Each environmental impact factor (EIF) is rated on a scale of 1 to 10 and a total score for the product is generated.

The lower the score the lower environment impact

Green indicates the lowest environmental impact and red indicates the highest environmental impact.

Manufacturing Impact

Manufacturing Impact Reduction
Verifies if the manufacturer has made reductions in various impact categories such as energy, water, waste, etc, in the production of the product

Renewable Energy Use
Verifies if the manufacturer uses renewable energy to produce the product being evaluated

Responsible Chemical Management
Verifies that the manufacturer has processes and procedures in place to mitigate the risk of exposure to hazardous chemicals and products throughout the product’s value chain.

Shipping Impact
Measures the distance between the manufacturing location and point of sale(s) for the product.

Product Content
Verifies the use of sustainable content in the product, including claims of dematerialization.

Packaging Content
Verifies the use of sustainable content in the packaging materials, including claims of dematerialization.

User Impact

Energy Consumption
Measures the amount of energy (kWh) a product uses over a 24- hour period. Actual kWh usage over 24-hour period is reported.

Water Consumption
Measures the amount of water a product uses over a 24-hour period. Actual water consumption over a 24-hour period is reported.

Product Lifetime
Verifies the durability or anticipated useful life of the product being assessed.

End of Life Impact

Packaging End of Life
Audits the end-of-life (EOL) opportunities for the packaging.

Product End of Life
Audits the end-of-life (EOL) opportunities

Encourages manufacturers to implement sustainability attributes that goes beyond the current scope of any other Environmental Impact Factor with innovative solutions. A score of -1 will be assigned if achieved.

Environmental Impact Factor

The sum total of all values, where a lower number indicates a lower environmental impact.

As a purchaser, you can make more environmentally informed purchasing choices for your labware by consulting ACT labels found at thermofisher.com/actlabel

By doing so, you become part of the movement driving demand for products to be characterized by ACT labels in support of sustainable purchasing..

Expiry Date of the ACT Label

ACT Labels are valid for two years from the date of issue.