EPA Adds Lab Category to Federal Purchaser Sustainability Recommendations

Federal laboratories are now encouraged to source more sustainable products and safer chemicals, as well as earn certification through My Green Lab (MGL), thanks to two new additions to the federal Environmentally Preferable Purchasing program. In December, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) updated their Recommendations of Specifications, Standards and Ecolabels for Federal Purchasing, including new product categories for laboratory operations and laboratory equipment and supplies.

This is the first time that EPA has thoroughly reviewed green product standards and expanded its federal purchasing recommendations in nearly 10 years. This update reflects the addition of eligibility criteria that certification programs and ecolabels such as ACT must meet, including the existence of a third-party verification program and a directory of qualifying products or services.

In the new laboratory categories, EPA recommends both My Green Lab certification and products that have earned MGL’s Accountability, Consistency, and Transparency (ACT)® label. With the addition of Impact Laboratories as a third-party certifier, the ACT label and My Green Lab certification met EPA’s new criteria and provide a way for federal agencies with laboratories to meet Executive Order 14057 on federal procurement of sustainable products and services. The ACT label, while not an indication of superior sustainability performance, does ensure that manufacturers provide third-party verified data about the environmental impact of their laboratory products and processes.

EPA added a total of 14 ecolabels and standards, including Greenhealth for medical equipment and Greenscreen for medical supplies and devices. If you are interested in learning more about sustainable procurement for laboratories, the I2SL Circular Economy for Laboratories Community of Practice (CoP) is a great place to share best practices; check out the 2025 CoP Editorial Calendar for topics on purchasing sustainable products for laboratories in the coming year.