Capstone Team Launches Green Labs Program on Campus
Grizzly Green Labs Wins 2024-2025 Capstone Award for Pioneering Campus Sustainability Program
This year’s top capstone honor goes to Grizzly Green Labs, a team tackling one of academia’s hidden climate culprits: research laboratories.
Labs are among the most resource-intensive spaces on campus, often relying on single-use plastics and high-energy equipment. Despite UM’s commitment to sustainability, no existing programs addressed lab sustainability—until now. Grizzly Green Labs filled this critical gap by launching a pilot program that assessed lab operations, offered tailored sustainability recommendations, and built a long-term roadmap for change.
Seven labs across campus participated in the spring pilot. With the support of the Office of Sustainability, the team created a plan for continued implementation and expansion, aligning with UM’s Climate Action Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and eliminate waste by 2050.
Grizzly Green Labs not only created a practical solution—they set a precedent for sustainable research across campus and beyond. Congratulations, team!
