Medical Technologist Specialist Michigan Medicine Ann Arbor, MI
Aim: Healthcare contributes to 4.6% of global carbon emissions, with laboratories producing more than 5 million tons of plastic waste per year. Aligned with University of Michigan’s Vision 2034 sustainability plan, Michigan Medicine (MM) is committed to carbon neutrality with goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and minimize waste generation. The MM Histocompatibility (HLA) laboratory took initiative, working together to implement sustainable practices through optimizing freezer usage, integrating recycling programs and digitizing workflows to reduce paper usage.
Methods: To improve energy efficiency, our HLA lab participated in the My Green Lab: International Laboratory Freezer Challenge. Maintenance was performed on 11 ultra-low (≤ -70°C) and 9 -20°C freezers, including full defrosts and cleaning of filters, coils and intakes. Sample storage was converted to a high-density format allowing us to empty 1 ultra-low and 2 -20°C freezers. For plastic waste reduction, we joined the Thermofisher TipCycle program to recycle pipette tip racks and boxes. To further reduce waste, we identified our highest paper-consuming processes: newly listed patient documentation, post-transplant checklists, daily run worksheets and add-on forms. Collaborating with the hospital informatics team and utilizing tools in Excel and Microsoft Teams, these workflows were digitized, significantly decreasing paper usage.
Results: Participation in the freezer challenge achieved an estimated energy savings of 80 kWh per day. Over a year, this savings is equivalent to the energy consumption of 3 average US homes. This accomplishment received international recognition, earning the top award for a medium-sized laboratory in the Academic Sector for 2024. Since joining the TipCycle program, we have recycled 514 pounds of plastic from May 2024 to April 2025. By transitioning to digital workflows, we saved approximately 9,497 pages over the past year, equating to the preservation of about one standard 45 ft pine tree.
Conclusion: Clinical and research laboratories are essential in the global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and waste. We hope the sustainable practices implemented by the HLA lab at MM will inspire other laboratories to evaluate and improve their own operations. Together these efforts can contribute to building a greener, more sustainable and healthier community.
