Sustainable Innovation: Carbon Tracking and Microplate Reuse

As we navigate toward a more sustainable future, practices such as microplate reuse align with global efforts such as the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and California’s new emissions reporting requirements.  These efforts are meant to mitigate climate change by reducing the consumption of non-renewable resources and lowering greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This practice is not just an isolated activity but a vital part of a holistic approach to research that prioritizes planet-friendly operations. It reflects a commitment to the well-being of our environment, as well as to the scientific community’s responsibility to lead by example in the stewardship of our planet’s resources.

In the realm of Contract Research Organizations (CROs) and pharmaceutical research, the imperative for environmentally sustainable practices has become increasingly pronounced. A pivotal benefit of reusing microplates is the ability to meticulously track and manage carbon usage for various assays and, for CROs, individual customers. This approach enhances operational efficiency and positions organizations as leaders in ecological responsibility.

The Benefit Explained:

Microplate reuse brings a more accurate and markedly reduced quantification of carbon emissions throughout their lifecycle. By tracking carbon usage per assay, research entities gain critical data that support ” multiple sustainability initiatives:

1. Carbon Footprint Reduction: Reutilizing microplates significantly lowers the carbon footprint traditionally associated with their production and disposal. This can be precisely recorded and allocated to specific assays or clients.

2. Client-Specific Reporting: CROs can provide detailed carbon footprint reports to their clients, aligning with the clients’ sustainability objectives and potentially influencing partner selection.

3. Benchmarking and Goals: Organizations can set and pursue clear sustainability targets, enhancing their environmental impact strategies.

4. Regulatory Compliance: With increasing regulatory mandates for carbon reporting, accurate tracking ensures compliance and offers a market advantage.

With the upcoming requirements of the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and California’s Senate Bill 253, the life science research community is approaching a transformative era where sustainability metrics will stand alongside financial indicators as a barometer of success and responsibility. Microplate reuse, and the tracking of associated carbon usage, positions laboratories to seamlessly integrate into this new paradigm, championing not only scientific innovation but also sustainability and environmental ethics.

Such integration of sustainable practices is essential for maintaining the delicate balance of our ecosystem, promoting the health of our communities, and ensuring the longevity and efficacy of scientific research. By proactively adopting these practices, organizations not only future-proof their operations against upcoming regulatory changes but also contribute to a larger movement towards a more accountable and sustainable world.

Here are the details on the changes that are coming:

Most companies are proficient at assessing emissions from their own operations (Scope 1 emissions) and energy usage (Scope 2 emissions). The same cannot be said for Scope 3 emissions, which are trickier ― primarily because they involve emissions created outside the reporting company.

1. In Europe, 11,700 of the largest, exchange-listed companies, banks, and insurers will have to report their greenhouse gas emissions for the first time in 2025 because of the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). These companies — with more than 500 employees each — were formerly covered by the Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD), a predecessor of the CSRD that imposed broader, less stringent rules on environmental, social, and governance disclosure. Their 2025 reports will have to detail emissions from their 2024 fiscal years. The breadth and detail required by the CSRD framework can feel overwhelming, especially for companies that have not previously been subject to environmental disclosure.

2. Companies will face an unprecedented level of data-intensive, highly granular reporting because of the CSRD and ESRS. 

3. Sustainability will essentially become a fourth factor for many finance functions to balance, alongside the traditional “buckets” of revenue, cost, and capital.

4. Carbon accounting is also set to become a major factor in defining business risk as many companies begin to calculate carbon footprints using the Greenhouse Gas Protocol’s Scope 1, 2, and 3 definitions for the first time. CSRD disclosure is also based not just on a company’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions but rather on its total greenhouse gas emissions ― using CO2 equivalents. This measure represents the number of metric tons of CO2 emissions with the same global warming potential as one metric ton of another GHG.

California’s new emissions reporting requirements also will start in 2026 for the 2025 reporting year. There are similarities to the CSRD and important differences. The key details are:

1. Senate Bill 253 (SB 253) requires U.S. businesses with over $1 billion in revenue that conduct business in California (“reporting entities”) to annually report their Scope 1, 2 and 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. SB 253 applies to any company whose products are sold in California.
2. Reporting obligations under SB 253 will begin in 2026, meaning entities covered should prepare in 2025 to start tracking Scope 1 and 2 emissions.
3. For Scope 1 and 2 emissions, reporting entities will be required to engage a third-party to provide limited assurance starting in the 2026 reporting year. Reasonable assurance is required starting in 2030.
4. For Scope 3 emissions, an assurance engagement is not required until the 2030 report, at which time limited assurance is needed.
5. The Greenhouse Gas Protocol standards and guidance must be used to calculate emissions for at least the 2026-2033 reports. Starting in 2033 and every five years thereafter, CARB is required to assess reporting methodologies.