ACB introduces the Green Champions group
The ACB is delighted to announce the creation of the Green Champions group: a team of enthusiastic individuals who banded together in late 2022 based on an imperative for diagnostic laboratories to support the move towards a Net Zero NHS.
Currently, laboratories process a large number of samples, consume significant amounts of energy and produce staggering amounts of plastic waste. The Green Champions group aims to develop and promote best practices with ACB members and beyond, addressing some of these lab inefficiencies affecting the environment as a whole. This could take the form of education, signposting to existing frameworks and toolkits, and sharing case studies of good practice.
The group wants environmental sustainability to be embedded into diagnostic laboratories. This requires sustained behavioural change as well as access to relevant information. A big part of this work is maintaining inspiration and motivation, so providing tools for champions to enact change in their own organisations is also key. Furthermore, it’s important to consider the environmental impact of all aspects of the Association’s work, including the UKMedLab national meeting, bursaries, grants and awards, and its many regionally-organised activities.
The Green Champions group is set to grow over time and engage with the wider laboratory medicine community. Its members are keen to hear from ACB members about examples of good practice and suggestions for meaningful change.
Please submit your good practice suggestions using this form.
For more information on environmental sustainability in laboratory medicine and healthcare systems, we recommend the resources below.