Sustainability Champions: Zac Simon from the Institute for Systems Biology
Laboratories are vital to scientific progress, but they also produce a staggering amount of waste. For many labs, addressing this issue feels daunting. Tight budgets, strict protocols, and complex waste streams create barriers to meaningful change. Yet, as Zac Simon from the Institute for Systems Biology (ISB) has proven, small steps toward sustainability can ignite a transformation.
Based in the heart of Seattle, Zac’s work as the Associate Director of Environmental Health and Safety is more than just a job—it’s personal. He draws inspiration from the beauty of the Puget Sound, a pristine natural landmark he’s committed to protecting. “Knowing that my efforts here at ISB contribute to keeping the Puget Sound as clean and vibrant as it is today—that’s in part what drives me,” Zac shared.
Through innovative strategies and a deep commitment to change, Zac has sparked a ripple effect across the institute. We sat down with him to learn more about his journey and the impact he’s driving at ISB.
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Polycarbin: "What motivated you to start focusing on sustainability in your lab?"
Zac: Over time, I couldn’t ignore the sheer volume of waste we produce—something close to 500 boxes a year being autoclaved and ultimately ending up in landfills. It’s a staggering amount, and it really started to bother me.
During the pandemic, it hit even harder. We went through 1,000 boxes of disposable masks in just a year, and I couldn’t stop thinking about the environmental impact. That’s when I started looking for solutions. At first, we found a vendor to recycle masks, which helped a little. But then I discovered Polycarbin, which opened up many more possibilities. Suddenly, we weren’t just recycling masks—we could recycle pipette tip boxes, nitrile gloves, and other plastics. It was a game-changer.
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Polycarbin: "What advice would you give labs just starting their sustainability journey?"
Zac: Start small. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and like you need to solve every problem at once. Instead, focus on one or two waste streams to make the process more manageable and build momentum.
Training is another critical piece. When I first launched the program, I put bins out in the labs and sent an email. It didn’t work—people either ignored the bins or used them incorrectly. That was a real learning moment for me.
The breakthrough came during our annual refresher training, where we cover bloodborne pathogens and other required topics. I added a five-minute sustainability segment to the agenda. It gave me a captive audience to talk about small, simple actions they could take—like recycling gloves, turning off freezers, or powering down equipment when it’s not in use.
We followed up with a dedicated sustainability session that Polycarbin provides with their service. Their representative joined virtually to explain how the program worked and how it met ISO 9001 standards so staff could trust the quality of recycled products. He even pointed out that Fisher Scientific carries Polycarbin products, making them easily integrated into our workflows.
By showing how sustainability aligned with their goals—whether it was reducing waste, cutting costs, or maintaining efficiency—we started to get real buy-in across the organization.
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Polycarbin: "What are some challenges you have faced, and how did you overcome them?"
Zac: One challenge was minimizing the potential for contamination. To address this, we posted flowcharts tailored to each lab’s specific waste streams. These visuals were a game-changer. People finally had clear, easy-to-follow instructions, and compliance was remarkable.
Additionally, we focused our efforts on specific lab settings and high volume workflows. For example, in our biosafety level 1 labs, nearly all gloves are eligible for recycling. This made program launch simple and allowed for near immediate impact.
In all, navigating these complexities required careful planning and clear communication.
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Polycarbin: "What impact have these changes had on your lab and team?"
Zac: According to our Carbin Counter™ dashboard, we’ve diverted over 1,250 pounds of lab plastics from landfills so far—that’s about 50 fewer boxes every year. For a small research institute like ours, that’s a huge win.
Even better, it’s changed how people think. We now have centralized recycling stations, making it easier for researchers to sort their waste correctly. Some even keep labeled boxes on their benches for gloves and empty them into the larger bins daily. Those small, individual actions really add up.
For me, it’s personally rewarding. It’s bigger than anything I could do in my everyday life—it’s something we’re doing together as a team.
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Polycarbin: "So starting small has paved the way for bigger changes at ISB?"
Zac: Yes. Starting small has made all the difference. Seeing how easy it is to implement something like Polycarbin’s recycling program has started to generate buy-in for the bigger, more challenging initiatives.
For example, we have 36 ultra-low freezers—negative eighties—that need to be cleaned out and itemized. That’s a tougher sell, but once people see that we’re committed to sustainability and that it works, they’re more open to tackling harder projects.
One of my goals now is to get some of our labs My Green Lab Certified. It’s a big step, but it aligns with what people care about, like grant funding. Sustainability is now part of some NIH grants, so labs that demonstrate they’re doing science sustainably might have a higher chance of securing funding. If even one lab does it, it could inspire the whole institute to follow.
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Polycarbin: "Do you have any final words of encouragement for other labs?"
Zac: You don’t need to do everything at once. Sustainability is a journey, and every step matters. Start with one or two simple actions, like adding bins and training your team. Track your progress and share it with your lab. Once people see the impact, momentum will build naturally. Small changes really do add up. Before you know it, sustainability becomes part of your lab’s culture.
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