10 San Diego Sustainability Wins (and How Labs Can Join In)
San Diego has set one of the most ambitious climate goals in the country - net-zero by 2035 - and is already building the systems to get there. From water reuse to zero-waste policy to clean power, the region’s playbook offers practical lessons for research and biotech labs that want to scale sustainability without slowing science.
Let’s look at 10 San Diego sustainability initiatives and simple ways your lab can tap into the momentum to shrink your footprint.
1) Pure Water San Diego
The multi-phase Pure Water program will supply nearly half of the city’s drinking water locally by 2035, turning recycled water into safe, high-quality drinking water. It’s drought resilience at scale, and it reduces dependence on imported supplies. This is all excellent news for a region with large research campuses that rely on stable water quality and availability.
What labs can do: Optimize DI/RO systems (fix leaks, right-size tanks, verify reject ratios) and swap once-through cooling for recirculating chillers.
2) UC San Diego’s Green Labs
UC San Diego’s Green Labs initiative shows that safety and sustainability can move together, with 100+ labs certified and campus practices that reduce energy, water, and plastic waste without slowing research. In a field where single-use materials accumulate quickly, UCSD offers tangible, local examples that peers can adapt across Torrey Pines, UTC, and Sorrento Mesa.
What labs can do: Divert single-use lab plastics via a circular recycling program and enroll teams in a Green Lab checklist to lock in SOPs.
3) San Diego’s Zero Waste Plan
The city’s Zero Waste Plan targets 90% diversion by 2035 and “zero waste” by 2040, reinforced by state rules that standardize service levels and reduce audit surprises. Clearer expectations and better hauling infrastructure make it easier for large facilities to separate streams, measure outcomes, and show progress in ESG reporting.
What labs can do: Stand up organics bins in break rooms, and match local single-use reductions where applicable. Bake diversion into facilities projects (Furniture, Fixtures & Equipment, metals, e-waste) so tonnage isn’t lost in decommissions.
4) Resilient Coastlines & Cleaner Waters
The City’s adaptation strategy centers on nature-based solutions for sea-level rise and flooding, vital for shoreline labs and biotechs clustered near bays and estuaries. Meanwhile, UCSD’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography is a national leader in microplastics research and monitoring. They have been able to document far greater ocean abundance of microplastics than previously estimated, and the local links to coastal ecosystems.
What labs can do: Tighten upstream controls (low-shedding mats, closed containers, secondary containment for pellets) and add fine screens on floor sinks where allowed.
5) Clean Power, by Default
Through San Diego Community Power (SDCP), customers are auto-enrolled in a ≥50% renewable plan (PowerOn) with a one-click opt-up to 100% renewable and carbon-free (Power100). The City already runs municipal facilities on Power100, setting a clear benchmark for tenants and owners. Pairing grid choices with on-site generation strengthens resilience for cold storage and critical loads.
What labs can do: Opt suites to Power100 and add rooftop solar plus battery storage where feasible to protect freezers and shave peak demand.
6) Low-carbon Commutes
The Mid-Coast Extension added 11 miles and nine stations, connecting UC San Diego, the VA Medical Center, and UTC to downtown on a one-seat Blue Line ride, making transit a practical alternative to solo driving for many researchers and staff. Better access broadens hiring reach, reduces parking pressure, and lowers commute emissions.
What labs can do: Offer pre-tax transit benefits, align shift times to trolley schedules, and provide secure bike storage and showers.
7) Community Cleanups
In 2024, Surfrider San Diego hosted 189 beach cleanups, engaging 10,083 volunteers who removed 12,093 lbs of trash. They also detailed item-level data your EH&S or ESG teams can mine for source reduction.
What labs can do: Partner with a local organization to sponsor a cleanup as a material-use audit. Cross-check items against your purchasing list and update purchasing to lower leakage.
8) Waste-free “Infrastructure” for Residents and Businesses
“I Love A Clean San Diego” runs WasteFreeSD, a countywide directory with 1,700+ recycling and reuse options, which is a goldmine when off-loading lab-adjacent materials (furniture, pallets, foam) without landfilling.
What labs can do: Use the directory for lab-adjacent materials and keep landfill tonnage for what’s truly non-recyclable.
9) Green Buildings for Science
Across Torrey Pines, UTC, and Sorrento Mesa, new lab builds and retrofits are leaning hard into efficient HVAC, heat-recovery, and electrification, which are the most significant levers in a lab’s energy and carbon footprint.
You’ll see variable-air-volume (VAV) controls, heat-recovery chillers/energy recovery wheels, demand-controlled ventilation tied to occupancy/sash position, smart BMS analytics with granular submetering, and low-GWP refrigerants in the spec. Paired with commissioning and periodic re-commissioning, these measures cut load 20–40% while preserving biosafety, uptime, and comfort.
What labs can do: Run a fume-hood sash and VAV tuning campaign, standardize –70 °C ULT setpoints with tighter inventory, and add heat-recovery on AHUs/chillers and pilot all-electric suites during retrofits.
10) Circular Biotech, Powered by Polycarbin
San Diego’s life-sciences cluster embraces circular solutions that keep research-grade plastics in play, which is where Polycarbin’s Closed-Loop recycling services come in. Polycarbin diverts clean, single-use lab plastics from landfill or incineration and remanufactures them into the next generation of low-carbon lab products.
For higher-volume facilities, Polycarbin’s CORE service allows high-throughput customers to save on cost while benefiting from bespoke service contracts that include hardware, training, local transport, and data management.
What labs can do: Want an easy, compliant recycling plan? Polycarbin will identify your plastics, set up the bins and local pickups, and give you a real-time reporting dashboard that helps you track your sustainability goals, all without adding work for your team.
Ready to get started? Request a San Diego-based assessment, and we will share a clear plan, pricing, and everything you need to get your team and leadership on board.
