In 2022, our laboratory at the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) began the process of becoming My Green Lab certified. While our facility’s mission is environmental protection, I was often struck by how wasteful lab operations could be. I remember watching a coworker run a RODI tap into the sink for five minutes while pouring samples. When I asked why, he replied, “That’s the way we’ve always done it.” My Green Lab is designed to challenge those very assumptions.
Getting started
I first encountered My Green Lab through a university friend and immediately saw its potential for our facility. As a supervisor, I pitched the program to our lab manager. While it took several attempts to gain approval, I eventually succeeded by aligning the certification with our organization’s broader sustainability goals.
We started with a baseline assessment through My Green Lab. The results were not shocking; we scored 36 percent. The silver lining of starting at the bottom is that the only way to go is up. Though the resulting list of improvements was intimidating, it offered a clear roadmap of actionable, low-hanging fruit.
Realizing this was too large a task for one person, we formed a Green Team of passionate analysts. This collaborative approach provided three distinct advantages:
- The Green Team was full of ideas and suggestions. As scientists, they were curious about why we did things in specific ways and weren’t afraid to ask questions. Those questions led to “I don’t know” and “that’s the way we’ve always done it” responses, which challenged us to dig deeper and think outside the box.
- The Green Team offered opportunities for leadership roles in the lab. Members of our team presented, led meetings, and collaborated with groups outside the laboratory.
- Peer pressure was very influential. The analysts in the Green Team worked side by side with their peers to help them make sustainable choices and find greener solutions.
Challenges and solutions
What do you mean we can’t change that?
In an ideal world, we would immediately replace all equipment with energy-efficient models and switch to non-hazardous materials. However, as a regulated laboratory, we are limited by test methods, accreditation requirements, and budgets. For example, we would love to stop using mercury-containing reagents, but we must follow specific approved methods. Even if a greener alternative exists, we cannot switch unless our regulators approve it for use.
While we were unable to discontinue mercury use, we did find an approved alternative procedure to eliminate phenol. It took significant effort—from method research and side-by-side testing to statistical analysis—to ensure we met accreditation requirements before making the switch. In the end, the effort was worth it; we successfully removed one type of hazardous material from our lab.
Sweating the small stuff
It’s easy to get stuck in the weeds. We desperately wanted to reduce paper towel waste, but our attempt to switch to recycled content nearly started a laboratory revolt. We realized we relied on them for everything: cleaning, drying hands, wiping spills, covering supplies, and—notoriously—as “lab stationery” for quick notes.
Staff found the recycled brands flimsy and non-absorbent. No matter the brand, they were a failure. We eventually pivoted to a more effective solution: squeegees. In a water lab, spills are frequent, and squeegees handled them better than paper ever could. I am also happy to report that we have officially retired paper towels as stationery.
Go big or go home?
Our Green Team wants to go big. Early on, we struggled to navigate topics outside our expertise or scope of control. Without a dedicated sustainability point person at our organization, information was siloed, and it was frustrating to feel that our larger ideas might never be considered.
We approached this issue in a few ways:
- We document all ideas in an action tracking spreadsheet. This shows the status of each item so we can see what’s being worked on. It is also an important place to keep notes on who we’ve contacted, allowing us to revisit stalled items.
- We remind ourselves that plenty of actions are within our scope. We don’t need special permissions to shut fume hood sashes or turn off lights when done for the day.
- We are creating a network of sustainability experts. One of our Green Team members recently started a Green Collaborator’s meeting that includes people outside the laboratory to explore how we can work together to accomplish larger goals.
Motivation and momentum, oh my!
Our lab has a busy season and a slow season, and it can be challenging to keep up momentum when the workload peaks. Fortunately, My Green Lab focuses not only on technical actions but also on the culture of sustainability. Even when we can’t fit in new method testing, we can supplement the sustainable actions already in place.
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Many of our low initial scores were due to staff answering “I don’t know” to assessment questions. You can have the best tools in your toolbox, but they aren’t useful if no one knows where they are. We began making posters highlighting our organization’s existing programs—such as battery and light bulb recycling—and posted them on the bathroom stall doors to reach a captive audience. We also incorporated sustainability training for new staff alongside our safety training and added sustainable topics to our regular lab meetings.
To further engage the team, we showcased our competitive spirits by hosting sustainability challenges. Employees researched ideas to reduce waste and submitted proposals on how they could be implemented. A panel from outside the laboratory reviewed the proposals and voted on the top ones. We held an awards ceremony and gave out prizes, but in the end, the lab won because we were able to implement every idea submitted. Some were simple, like switching from disposable containers to reusable ones. Others required more research, such as reducing the number of dilutions performed for one of our tests to reduce the number of bottles, chemicals, and instrument run time. That required a dive into the data to determine what dilutions made the most sense without sacrificing quality.
It isn’t all work and no play; it is important to celebrate our successes. A favorite tradition is our Leafy Award, a traveling trophy passed along each month to someone nominated for sustainable work. We announce the recipient at our lab meetings, and they earn some well-deserved bragging rights.
Lessons learned
Where did these efforts lead? We obtained our initial certification in 2023 and recertified at the platinum level in December 2025 with a final score of 79 percent. Along the way, we’ve gathered several key takeaways:
- Start small but think big. There will be actions outside of your control that you want to change. Keep a log of these and reach out to others to build a larger network.
- Get creative. We didn’t find the paper towel solution we wanted, but we found a unique one with squeegees. Sometimes you just have to experiment.
- Document everything. If it isn’t documented, it didn’t happen. An action tracker shows exactly where you are and how much you have accomplished.
- Celebrate success. Your coworkers worked hard to implement these changes. Whether it’s a traveling trophy or an Earth Day potluck, make time for fun.
- Create leadership opportunities. Empower your staff to take the lead on projects or meetings.
- Stay curious. This work is never done. There will always be new technologies, methods, or supplies available. Continue to educate your team on new technologies and explore possibilities; the outcome is only limited by your imagination.
The path forward
Our journey from a 36 percent baseline to 79 percent Platinum certification has transformed our lab culture. By challenging the way we’ve always done things, we’ve proven that even in a highly regulated environment, significant sustainable change is possible. We look forward to seeing where our curiosity takes us next.