UNIDO and EUROLAB: the brochure “Laboratories for a Sustainable Future” — environmental, social and governance best practices and a method for calculating a laboratory’s carbon footprint in scopes 1, 2 and 3
On 18 May 2026 the European federation of laboratory associations EUROLAB, together with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), published a brochure on sustainable laboratory management. It was developed after a series of webinars under UNIDO’s Global Quality and Standards Programme (GQSP).
- The brochure describes best practices in the environmental, social and governance (ESG) dimensions: energy and water efficiency, chemical and waste management, control of air emissions, and transparent and accountable governance. It also proposes ESG-aligned key performance indicators so that a laboratory can measure progress over time.
- The second part is a step-by-step method for calculating a laboratory’s carbon footprint, suited to resource-constrained laboratories. According to a summary by China’s accreditation body CNAS, the method follows the GHG Protocol and divides emissions into scope 1 (direct), scope 2 (indirect from electricity) and scope 3 (indirect in the supply chain), and points to IPCC guidelines and national greenhouse gas inventories as sources of emission factors.
- CNAS lists indicators such as energy intensity, waste recovery rate and share of renewable energy, as well as low-cost, high-impact measures: shutting idle fume hoods, using energy-efficient equipment and reducing reagent use. According to CNAS, the brochure is aimed at laboratory managers, quality managers and technical staff of conformity assessment bodies, particularly in developing countries and economies in transition.
- The central message: sustainability strengthens competitiveness — laboratories that use resources efficiently reduce operating costs and gain technical credibility and client confidence. According to CNAS, the GQSP programme under which the guide was produced is supported by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).