Implementation of sustainable practices in medical laboratories. Switching Clinical Laboratories to Green Labs - Tomris Ozber

Tomris Ozben

EuSpLM, Ph.D., D.Sc., and Specialist in Clinical Biochemistry is the current President of the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM). She has been the Chair or Member in many Federations, Scientific Organizations, Societies, Committees and Councils. She is the Past-IFCC Treasurer, Past-Chair of the IFCC Congress and Conference Committee, Past-President of the Balkan Clinical Laboratory Federation (BCLF), and one of the Board of Directors of the IFCC Foundation for Emerging Nations (FEN).

Sustainability is important in a rapidly changing healthcare environment. Sustainability measures in the healthcare sector are needed to reduce its negative impacts on the environment and economy. Laboratory medicine should contribute to a sustainable healthcare system ensuring that resources are used efficiently from ecological, social, and economical perspectives, while providing high-quality services to patients and physicians. European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM) established the “EFLM TASK-FORCE GREEN and SUSTAINABLE LABS” on November 19, 2021. The aim is to implement sustainable practices in medical laboratories and to transform clinical laboratories into a safe and sustainable spaces by decreasing their deleterious environmental impact and implementing efficient actions in laboratories, and taking steps to minimize energy, water, and hazardous chemical use, as well as waste generation without compromising the quality of healthcare. EFLM and its Member Societies will lead the laboratory medicine community for the shift to carbon neutrality in line with the European Green Deal (EGD) Investment Plan, which is aimed at making Europe the world’s first climate-neutral continent. Guidelines, Checklists, PowerPoints, video recordings on main topics: Energy, Waste, Water, and Chemicals were completed. A call to receive “Green and Sustainable Lab Certificate” applications from Laboratories was launched. EFLM Green Laboratory Certification program has been designed allowing laboratories to improve the conditions of the laboratories through a continuous improvement process.