For biopharma labs, improving sustainability has often meant integrating more energy-efficient equipment, building better recycling programs or even selecting suppliers closer to home to reduce transportation emissions. One critical source of emissions, however, is often overlooked: refrigerant chemicals.
The refrigerants commonly used in equipment essential to biopharma research are man-made greenhouse gases known as fluorinated gases (F-gases), which have high global warming potentials (GWPs). Many commonly used hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants have GWPs hundreds to thousands of times higher than CO₂. New European Union and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency F-gas regulations are being introduced to phase down and ultimately discontinue the use of fluorinated gases as refrigerants. These new policies mean that sustainability is now tied directly to compliance, procurement and long-term risk.
The challenges with refrigerants for biopharma labs
The primary challenge for biopharma labs is transitioning to lower-GWP refrigerants without compromising performance or quality. In biological research, cells and samples must be maintained under tightly controlled, secure conditions, including stable temperatures. This means that any one lab can have several pieces of lab equipment designed to keep samples at the right temperature throughout every research stage, including ultra-low-temperature freezers, biomedical refrigerators, centrifuges and recirculating chillers. Maintaining these temperature requirements often means that laboratory equipment relies on refrigerants that may harm the environment. Even a small refrigerant leak, whether from normal operation, servicing or equipment issues, can have a big impact on the environment.
Equipment diversity can also be a challenge. One biopharma lab could operate several freezers, recirculating chillers and centrifuges – each with different requirements and applications – resulting in a fragmented equipment portfolio that makes monitoring refrigerant needs more complex. Some equipment may be used more frequently or require more servicing, increasing the need to monitor for harmful refrigerant chemical leaks or issues. Not all low-GWP refrigerant equipment may be a direct 1:1 swap either, so labs should also consider operational and technical needs when establishing protocols for refrigerant transitions. Additionally, labs must balance sustainability goals, budget and logistics when selecting refrigerant solutions. For example, CO₂ refrigerants are among the more sustainable options available, and they are relatively straightforward to ship and distribute. But CO₂ refrigerants require operation at high pressure, which can introduce design complexity and potentially increase upfront costs and lifecycle maintenance and repair challenges. Another low-GWP option is A2L refrigerants, which are often more cost-effective than CO₂ refrigerants, but can present logistical constraints, particularly as shipments over 100g are limited to ocean and ground transport. To navigate these challenges, labs may need to look for suppliers that can provide distribution and inventory support for the specific low-GWP refrigerant featured in the equipment they select.
Biopharma labs rely heavily on refrigeration to maintain product quality, safeguard patient safety and ensure regulatory compliance. But to support greener life science research, refrigerants must be part of sustainability roadmaps, and next-generation refrigerants must meet the operational demand and performance standards required.
The importance of partnering with suppliers
Suppliers play a crucial role in helping labs adopt lower-GWP refrigerants, particularly as labs have access to a growing range of alternatives that use refrigerants with lower GWPs. These newer options are less environmentally hazardous than traditional refrigerants, while still providing the accuracy, reliability and sample protection required for critical research.
Labs should look for suppliers that offer transparency into factors such as refrigerant type and service demands to support long-term sustainability planning. Some suppliers also offer validated and documented low-GWP alternatives suitable for specialized biopharma lab applications. Another consideration for labs could be to look for suppliers who have committed to enabling labs to reach their sustainability goals while still delivering the durable, intuitive and high-performance technologies they need to conduct critical biopharma research. Additionally, labs should consider the technical support network the supplier can provide, especially as technologies using low-GWP refrigerants may require different maintenance schedules and skill sets. A supplier with a strong technical support network that can offer support throughout a specific product’s lifecycle can help ensure customers have a smooth jumpstart and a reliable experience.
Most importantly, though, collaboration between laboratories and suppliers is essential to achieving sustainability objectives in both the short and long term. By aligning product development and refinements with anticipated regulatory requirements, suppliers can help labs’ sustainability investments remain compliant and effective in the future. Meeting sustainability goals, remaining compliant and ensuring product and patient safety will require labs and suppliers to work closely together.
What’s next and why future-proofing is critical
To support a more sustainable future, laboratories should look beyond existing sustainability regulations and consider how emerging policies may shape future requirements. Governments and regulatory bodies worldwide continue to develop and refine frameworks designed to reduce the environmental impact of products and chemicals. For example, the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020 establishes a national framework to reduce the use and impact of HFCs by mandating an 85 percent phasedown from historical baseline levels by 2036. Some product-specific regulations have already gone into effect, and it’s likely that more products will phase out HFCs. Regulatory bodies around the world are also making the transition away from HFCs. While many of these requirements are still being fully implemented, some suppliers are already transitioning away from fluorinated refrigerants, helping laboratories prepare for upcoming regulatory changes.
Labs should prioritize products that combine high performance with strong sustainability credentials, including solutions that exceed current regulatory requirements. Lab equipment, especially for cooling applications, often remains in service for many years. A decision on cooling equipment now may not need to be replaced due to performance by the time new regulations are implemented. Future-proofing equipment selection can also reduce the compliance burden, as the use of next-generation refrigerants and clear reporting procedures can make it easier to respond to evolving regulations. Choosing products and implementation strategies can help labs to prepare for future regulations without repeatedly upgrading or replacing existing systems, which can get costly and delay research timelines by interrupting workflows.
Refrigerants, which are essential for cooling freezers, cold rooms and chillers that preserve valuable samples and ensure product quality, can have significant climate impacts. New regulatory policies and evolving sustainability goals mean refrigerants must be central to sustainability strategies in biopharma labs. Laboratories that proactively respond to refrigerant challenges, future-proof equipment procurement decisions and collaborate with suppliers on low-GWP solutions have the potential to be better positioned to protect product and sample integrity, meet sustainability commitments and stay compliant in an evolving regulatory landscape.
Newsletters
Receive the latest pharmaceutical news, personalities, education, and career development – weekly to your inbox.
