Driving Sustainability Forward in Analytical Sciences
Explore how analytical science is going green without sacrificing productivity or precision.
Sustainability is no longer an aspirational add-on for analytical sciences – it is becoming an operational imperative woven into every stage of instrument design, manufacturing and laboratory workflows.
At the 2025 American Society for Mass Spectrometry (ASMS) conference, experts shared how the industry is embracing sustainable practices while driving innovation and productivity.
Sustainability is being shaped by multiple perspectives
“Sustainability is a really interesting point,” said Dr. Tarun Anumol, director of the applied markets segment group at Agilent. “There are a couple of things we need to think about.”
Anumol explained that sustainability must be viewed through both the customer and business lenses. Many customers focus on the environmental aspect, aiming to ensure their work contributes positively and leaves the planet in better shape. Equally important, however, is the financial and productivity perspective, where efficiency, cost reduction and long-term resource management are central.
“Things are going to be cheaper if I do it sustainably,” Anumol noted.
This dual approach – balancing environmental responsibility with economic performance – is driving innovation across the analytical sciences. Labs are increasingly adopting technologies that not only strengthen sustainability efforts but also enhance efficiency, cut down on resource use and lower operational costs. As a result, sustainability is shifting from a niche focus to a strategic driver of both scientific and business value.
Instrument design for a smaller footprint
Analytical companies, like Agilent, are continually redesigning instruments to reduce energy use and minimize environmental impact.
“By making instruments smaller and more energy-efficient, using less packaging and reducing shipping needs, we not only cut their energy footprint but also lower their overall carbon footprint,” explained Anumol.
This focus supports both sustainability and circularity. “For example, Agilent runs a program that takes back old instruments, refurbishes them and redeploys them. This reduces waste, extends the lifespan of equipment and creates a circular economy that benefits the planet,” he said.
Beyond environmental gains, sustainable practices also deliver business advantages. “Transitioning to technologies that use less power, gas and energy cuts laboratory costs. Plus, newer instruments are often more robust and reliable, reducing downtime. Labs can collect more data, faster – boosting productivity while supporting a more sustainable future,” Anumol added.
Sustainability begins in manufacturing
While sustainable lab instruments are vital, Dr. Thomas Moehring, senior director of OMICS applications and managing director at Thermo Fisher Scientific, emphasized that manufacturers also share responsibility.
“How do we ensure that we build and develop instruments sustainably? It all begins with us in the factories,” he said.
Moehring highlighted Thermo Fisher’s Bremen facility as a model of sustainable manufacturing: “We use solar panels and recirculate heat from the instruments to warm the building. Previously, this energy was wasted, but now we’re repurposing it to improve sustainability.”
By integrating renewable energy and capturing waste heat, the Bremen site has achieved fossil fuel-free operations – a milestone showing how sustainability can be embedded directly into production processes.
The broader industry shift
The conversation around sustainability is expanding beyond individual companies to shape the analytical sciences sector as a whole. Regulatory pressures, corporate environmental, social and governance commitments and customer demand are accelerating the adoption of greener technologies. This includes reducing solvent use in workflows, transitioning toward miniaturized systems and employing remote diagnostics to limit travel for service engineers.
Furthermore, sustainability in analytical sciences aligns with broader trends across the life sciences and pharmaceutical industries. As organizations set for carbon neutrality, the laboratories that underpin their research and development efforts are becoming central to achieving those goals. Vendors are responding with solutions that not only reduce environmental impact but also deliver clear business value.
"We don’t have to see sustainability as something that comes at a financial cost. In fact, it’s about improving the planet while reducing costs and boosting productivity at the same time. That’s where the conversation is headed,” Anumol concluded.
