Whole-site vs single-lab certification
How site-level certification compares to lab-level schemes, and how they fit together.
What is the difference?
Most laboratory sustainability schemes certify one lab or team at a time. Green STEM Certification is site-specific: it assesses sustainable practice across an entire site or institute, so the credential reflects your whole operation rather than a single room. Environmental management standards such as ISO 14001 are different again: they certify that you have a management process in place, not the sustainability of your research operations themselves.
| Approach | Scope | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Lab-level certification | A single laboratory or team | Recognising and improving practice within one lab |
| Site-level certification (Green STEM) | An entire site or institute | Evidencing sustainability across your whole operation |
| Environmental management system (e.g. ISO 14001) | Organisation-wide management process | A formal system for managing environmental impact |
Do they work together?
Yes. Lab-level schemes and site-level certification are complementary. Many organisations use lab-level recognition for individual teams and Green STEM Certification to demonstrate sustainability across the whole site. If you already run an environmental management system, site-level certification gives you a specific, evidenced credential to show for your research operations.
Which is right for us?
If you want to evidence sustainability for an entire site or institute, and provide a clear signal to the sector and to investors, site-level certification is the most direct route. You can start at Bronze and progress to Gold as your practice matures.