Do we have another Earth to go to?
Sustainability
Leader
Awards.
The case for sustainable science.
Biotech is an engine of discovery — but it carries a significant environmental footprint. Labs consume 5–10× more energy per square foot than standard office buildings, and single-use plastics are endemic across the sector.
Yet biotech sits at a unique intersection: the science we do can solve planetary crises — and our labs can model the solutions. The Sustainability Leader Awards recognise those leading the charge.
— IPCC 6th Assessment Report, 2023
79%
Global carbon emissions
from infrastructure & industry
55%
Tonnes of plastic waste
from labs globally each year
5-10×
More energy consumed
vs standard office buildings
2030
UN SDG deadline
to secure a liveable future
Five sustainability priorities to win.
In addition to traditional operational metrics, labs must demonstrate equal commitment to
all five priorities to earn recognition.
01
Energy & Carbon ReductionEnergy & Carbon Reduction
Net-zero lab operations powered by renewable energy. Reduce embodied carbon in equipment. Deploy energy-efficient HVAC and low-flow fume hoods.
- Renewable energy sourcing
- Efficient HVAC systems
- Low-flow fume hoods
02
Biodiversity & Green Lab Spaces
Responsible sourcing of biological materials and reagents. Habitat protection and green space integration across facilities.
- Responsible reagent sourcing
- Habitat protection
- Green space integration
03
Plastic Waste Management
Single-use plastic reduction. Closed-loop consumable systems. Supplier take-back schemes. Circular procurement models.
- Single-use reduction
- Closed-loop systems
- Circular procurement
04
Social Value & Community Impact
STEM outreach. Local supply chains. Equitable access to research benefits. Strong health & safety culture.
- STEM outreach
- Local supply chains
- Equitable research access
05
Resilience & Climate Adaptation
Climate-proof cold chains. Flood-resilient infrastructure. Business continuity plans for extreme weather events.
- Climate-proof cold chains
- Flood-resilient infra
- Business continuity
SUSTAINABILITY LEADER
AWARDS
From individual scientists to whole organisations — recognition for every level of
leadership in sustainable science.
Corporate Awards
From individual scientists to whole organisations — recognition for every level of
leadership in sustainable science.
Build a compelling,
evidence-based nomination.
Lab Directors and CSOs can step into the gap between ambition and action. Four steps to
make your submission stand out.
STEP 01
Lead by Example
Put sustainability on every lab meeting agenda. Champion it visibly. Highlight specific moments where you drove change personally.
STEP 02
Gather Evidence
Collect measurable data: energy reduction %, plastic waste diverted (kg), social value delivered, biodiversity outcomes, climate resilience actions.
STEP 03
Cross-Functional
Collaboration
Strong nominations show engagement across research, operations, procurement, finance and HR. Show how you broke down silos.
STEP 04
Progress, Not
Perfection
Document your improvement journey, not just the endpoint. Judges value honesty, ambition, and a clear roadmap forward.
Collect before you submit.
Judges value honesty, ambition, and a clear roadmap. Aim for progress — not perfection. Bring measurable outcomes across every priority area.
Meet the jury panel.
A panel of scientists and industry leaders evaluating nominations with rigour,
equity and vision.
Keynote Speaker, Jury Member
Dr. S Venkata Mohan
FNAE, FNASc
Director
CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI)
Jury Member
Mr. Vinod Mishra
Country Manager -United Nations Office for Project Services
UNOPS India
Jury Member
Pannaga Pavan Jutur
Group Leader, Omics of Algae Group, Integrative Biology
ICGEB, New Delhi, India
Jury Member
Shashi Kumar
Group leader, Metabolic
Engineering
ICGEB, New Delhi, India
Jury Member
Prof. Vivekanandan Perumal
Head, Kusuma School of Biological Sciences
IIT Delhi
Jury Member
Dr. Himanshu Vashistha
Consultant-UNOPS, Lead Regional Technical Specialist,
FIND (Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics)
Jury Member
Dr. Shireesh Srivastava
Group Leader, Systems Biology for Biofuels
ICGEB, New Delhi, India
Submit your nomination.
Nominations are open to labs, individuals and organisations worldwide. Judging is blind and evidence-based.
- Free to nominate
- Multiple categories allowed
- Blind, evidence-based judging
- Shortlist announced Sep 2026