Laboratories for a Sustainable Future: Best Practices for Responsible and Efficient Laboratory Management
Laboratories for a Sustainable Future: Best Practices for Responsible and Efficient Laboratory Management
The Accreditation Body of the Iranian Association of Clinical Laboratory Doctors is delighted to introduce the new brochure, “Laboratories for a Sustainable Future: Best Practices for Responsible and Efficient Laboratory Management,” developed in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
Laboratories play a decisive role in enabling countries to trade, innovate, and protect public health. Yet many laboratories, especially in developing and transition economies, face rising pressure to operate not only with technical excellence but also with environmental responsibility, social accountability, and strong governance. To support this shift, UNIDO and EUROLAB are strengthening global efforts to embed sustainability into laboratory operations, helping institutions reduce resource consumption, cut emissions, improve safety, and reinforce trust in national quality systems.
The joint EUROLAB – UNIDO brochure, developed under the UNIDO Global Quality and Standards Programme (GQSP), outlines best practices across key environmental, social, and governance (ESG) dimensions, including:
-Energy and water efficiency: practical steps to reduce consumption and costs
-Chemical and waste management: safer, cleaner, and more compliant operations
-Air emissions control: minimizing environmental and health impacts
-Governance and leadership: building transparent, accountable, and resilient institutions
It also introduces a methodology for calculating a laboratory’s carbon footprint, offering a step‑by‑step approach suitable for resource‑constrained settings. A set of ESG‑aligned key performance indicators (KPIs) enables laboratories to measure progress and track improvements over time.
The central message of the publication is clear: sustainability strengthens competitiveness. Laboratories that invest in efficient resource use and responsible management practices not only reduce operational costs, but also enhance their technical credibility, improve client confidence, and expand access to new markets.
The official press release and brochure can be accessed on the EUROLAB website and UNIDO Knowledge Hub at [hub.unido.org]hub.unido.org.
The brochure is available for download: here