Small changes can have a big impact
For a year, seven laboratories at tirol kliniken worked together to reduce their resource consumption and make their work processes more sustainable. In recognition of this commitment, the ‘my green lab’ pilot project was awarded first place in the 2026 Innovation and Sustainability Award by the Austrian Association of Green Hospitals. The expert jury even described the project as a ‘flagship project’ for sustainable laboratories in the healthcare sector.
The focus was not on developing major technical innovations, but on the consistent implementation of numerous practical measures in day-to-day work.
Sustainability becomes part of the routine
Among the projects implemented is, for example, the reuse of shipping and packaging materials. New approaches have also been adopted for the storage of laboratory samples: instead of energy-intensive ice machines, so-called ‘Lab Armor Beads’ are used, which cool samples efficiently whilst saving electricity. In addition, more environmentally friendly chemicals have been introduced and existing processes have been critically reviewed.
One example of this is the ‘Blauer Jonas’ staining solution, which represents a more sustainable alternative to conventional methods. As well as being more environmentally friendly, it also proved its worth through its cost-effectiveness and the quality of the results.
Measurable results rather than good intentions
The project’s results are impressive: every year, at least 500 kilograms of waste, around 5,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity and approximately one tonne of CO₂ equivalents are already being saved. In addition, thousands of bin bags have been avoided. Sustainability has also been structurally integrated into workflows, training programmes and the organisation of the laboratories.
The pilot project has since given rise to the ‘ARGE Green-Labs’ working group. Its aim is to share experiences and drive further sustainable improvements in laboratories. #schongenial, because this project shows that many small, consistently implemented measures can, when combined, have a major impact on the environment, resources and the future of the healthcare sector.
