SP0288: Green Labs Certification

Firstly, the project would hold a 5 lab MyGreenLab certification pilot study which can provide the baseline, guidance, and framework required to help jump-start a McGill-specific Green Lab Certification Program. Secondly, the project will have a GLI-Sustainability officer + intern to help consolidate, create/run the McGill Green Lab Certification program from the ground up and, most importantly, help support/structure the GLI@McGill projects/community for a successful future.

SPF funding will be used for: the 5 lab pilot study from MyGreenLabs, provide salary for this GLI-Sustainability officer + intern, and to fund outreach materials that will help the GLI-Sustainability officer/intern with their tasks. The key contributions to McGill Sustainability are; the framework/baseline to support a long-lasting culture change within McGill research labs via the GLI@McGill community, supporting the contribution of McGill's research labs towards the university's "Zero Waste" goal, and organizing/consolidation of all "Green Lab" initiatives/information/resources within one location by one individual.

The project should happen in 3 phases. Phase #1 consists of running the 5 lab pilot project under the close monitoring/help of the GLI-Sustainability officer + intern, while concurrently mapping the "Green Lab" projects within and outside of McGill and conducting a needs assessment across McGill. Phase #2 consists of developing a McGill-specific Green Lab Certification Program while expanding the education of "green lab" initiatives at McGill by
networking with all the necessary stakeholders. Phase #3 involves the piloting and full-scale launch of the McGill-Specific Green Lab Certification Program and the development of as many additional resources as possible at McGill (ex: EHS sustainability training, Lab recycling programs, ACT labels [Accountability, Consistency, and Transparency Environmental Impact Factor] in McGill Market Place, Freezer Challenge .... etc). A McGill specific Green Lab certiication program is required because of; the cost for the MGL version and the McGill specific resources required.

Past the SPF funding, any remaining projects and the upkeep for the McGill Green Lab Certification will be continued by the GLI Intern position, housed at MOOS.

Lastly, this project both builds upon and scales all SP0265 applications, SP0240, and SP0208 because it helps to structure/guide the GLI@McGill labs/projects.

In conclusion, there has been about $100,000 of SPF awarded to green lab practices. However, teams are struggling to implement changes due to the institutional barriers they face; barriers that a GLI-Sustainability Officer could help navigate with a standardized green lab certification program.