ACT Label Certified Lab Product: Axygen HybridRack | Corning

The ACT Ecolabel—with ACT standing for accountability, consistency, and transparency—provides precise and comprehensive data on the environmental impact of a product's manufacturing, shipping, daily usage (if applicable), and end-of-life disposal.

My Green Lab, a respected nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the sustainability of the laboratory industry and scientific research, created the ACT Ecolabel program, describing it as "the first multi-attribute eco-label focused on sustainability in laboratory products and manufacturing for the life sciences industry." Like a nutrition label, the ACT Ecolabel breaks down information into distinct sections, covering manufacturing, user impact, end of life, and innovation. Evaluators assess a product's environmental impact in various areas, including responsible chemical management and water consumption, using a scale ranging from 1 (lowest environmental impact) to 10 (highest environmental impact) for most categories. The sum of these values creates a total Environmental Impact Factor (EIF), with a lower EIF indicating better sustainability. Due to differences in shipping, recycling, and other factors, the same product may receive varying scores in different countries or regions.

In 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) incorporated the ACT Ecolabel Program into its Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) Program, reflecting the ACT program's high standards. Over 1,700 ACT label certified lab products from 60 manufacturers are listed in the database.

The designers of the recently ACT-certified Axygen HybridRack prioritized sustainability. Corning engineers worked to reduce plastic usage in the product by up to 70% compared with traditional plastic tip racks.

Claux explained that to qualify for ACT labeling, a product must go through a third-party certification process. "There was no better way to prove [the product's sustainability] than getting the ACT Label," Claux said.

Third-party certification included an evaluation of the company's practices at the Salt Lake City facility where the Axygen HybridRack is manufactured, including water usage, energy usage, ISO certifications, and environmental projects implemented in the past five years. "For the product itself," he said, "we go through the bill of materials, so we give all the details around the materials, the components, and the specifications."

The ACT certification process helped guide Corning toward areas for further improvement, particularly in packaging. After identifying an opportunity to improve the sustainability of the Axygen HybridRack's cardboard packaging boxes, Corning was able to identify a more sustainable option through discussions with their cardboard supplier. The product now comes in Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)-certified cardboard boxes, partially made from recycled materials

The Axygen HybridRack pipette tip systems are available with different tip sizes and with filter tips or regular tips. The products' ACT Environmental Impact Factor (EIF) total scores for the U.S. range from 22.6 for the 10 μL Axygen HybridRack Tip to 27.8 for the 100 μL Axygen HybridRack Tip.

"The (EIF) score is important, but the details are even more important, in my opinion," Claux said. Some highlights of the label information include a low score of 1.0 for both Manufacturing Impact Reduction and Responsible Chemical Management. The ACT database notes that the Salt Lake City facility where the Axygen HybridRack is manufactured has achieved:

• 31.1% reduction in energy consumption per unit of production from 2023 to 2024
• 3.7% reduction in water usage from 2023 to 2024
• Almost a 49% reduction in hazardous waste generation from 2022 to 2023

Another highlight is the improved packaging sustainability, reflected in the low U.S. score of 1 for both Packaging Content and Packaging End of Life. Corning offers a take-back program for the product's cardboard packaging in the U.S. Additionally, the packaging is recyclable in the EU and the U.K.

The current Axygen HybridRack ACT Ecolabel is valid for 2 years, through June 2027. The process of renewing ACT certification may present additional opportunities for sustainable innovation, Claux said. "The idea is to encourage manufacturers to actually improve their score and make their products more sustainable over time." In the future, Corning expects to pursue a new version of the certification that will be valid for 3 years.

The ACT Ecolabel provides laboratories with a means to evaluate and compare the environmental impacts of laboratory products using a consistent and clear labeling system. For details beyond a product's EIF and category scores, purchasers can learn about the product's manufacturing, components, usage, and end-of-life considerations listed in the ACT Ecolabel database.

Claux emphasized that the ACT Ecolabel reflects the global impacts of a product, from manufacturing to end-of-life disposal. "As a lab user, if you are looking to reduce the amount of plastic that you generate, for example, the ACT label actually shows you weight reduction of the product and the reduction in plastic as well. Then, at the end of life, the opportunity to recycle the packaging. You also have one scoring category around responsible chemical management. That's related to how the product is being manufactured, making sure the facility has a strong environmental management system in place," he said.

Choosing more sustainable lab products and having the data to back this up can help labs work toward their own sustainability goals. In line with this, several universities and institutions have committed to incorporating ACT Ecolabel information into their procurement practices.

Corning is working toward certifying more products by the end of 2025 to increase environmental transparency for its customers and advance its sustainability goals.

This is all part of Corning's environmental, social, and governance (ESG) commitments to reduce Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) categories of scope 1 (direct greenhouse gas emissions), scope 2 (indirect emissions such as through utility firms), and scope 3 (indirect value chain emissions). "We have corporate goals to reduce our scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. Those goals have been submitted and approved by SBTi, and then every year we report on our progress and efforts to reach those goals," said Claux. Corning's annual Global Impact Report provides emissions data, updates on sustainable product innovations, and other information on environmental and social impacts.

"Beyond that, ESG has become a core component of how we do business at Corning," Claux continued. Reflecting this commitment, Corning was awarded the EcoVadis Gold Medal in 2025 for sustainability management. This achievement places Corning in the top 5% of companies audited by EcoVadis worldwide, building on Corning's EcoVadis Bronze and Silver Medals earned in previous years.

Corning Life Sciences is working to provide purchasers with additional tools for improving lab sustainability metrics. For example, more Corning products have incorporated Design for Sustainability, featuring changes such as reduced plastic content and increased use of recycled materials. The Corning EcoChoice™ program, launched in the fall of 2023, highlights and helps purchasers find the most sustainable lab product options Corning offers for their needs.

Contact your Corning account manager to learn more about Corning's sustainable product offerings, or request a free sample of the Axygen HybridRack.