Green Labs

In this episode of Inside the Lab, host David Ritter kicks off a new series on corporate responsibility with a timely conversation about Green Labs. Joined by Dr. Ilyssa Gordon and Dr. Moira Larsen, the discussion revisits how far laboratory sustainability has come since Dr. Gordon’s 2021 appearance on the show and examines what has changed over the last four years. The episode explores what “green labs” really mean in the context of clinical and pathology laboratories, from life-cycle assessments that quantify the carbon footprint of common workflows to system-level strategies that integrate sustainability into corporate responsibility frameworks. Dr. Gordon shares insights from her research on the environmental impact of GI biopsy processing and discusses how data-driven approaches can influence decision-making at the bench. Dr. Larsen outlines how green initiatives must be built into lab’s missions and financials in order to truly take hold, as well as the importance of partnering with aligned partners when sourcing materials. Throughout the conversation, the guests emphasize practical, achievable actions—both at the institutional and individual levels—while addressing the realities facing today’s lab professionals. The episode concludes on an optimistic note, highlighting what’s currently inspiring leaders in laboratory sustainability and reinforcing the idea that meaningful progress is possible, even in resource-constrained environments.