Sustainability

Doing good science is important. So is just doing good.

As a global company of caring people driven by a devotion to facilitating good science, CST is committed to doing the right thing for our Customers, our communities, and our planet. Our mission has always been to advance science, first and foremost—with each discovery made becoming knowledge that benefits all. And once you start thinking that big, you look for other ways to make the world better. How can we help fight climate change? How can we give back to our communities—near and far, scientific or otherwise? Beyond our research tools, what else can we give?

Since our founding, we’ve been passionate about sustainability. And now, more than ever, sustainable solutions are needed to combat climate change and improve planetary health. The life science industry does a lot of good, but we also use a lot of energy and resources. Our goal is to continue to provide the best research tools and solutions we can, and to do so in the most sustainable way possible. Our climate initiatives include:

• Cutting our greenhouse gas emissions.
• Working to eliminate single-use items.
• Being creative about transportation options and how reducing our individual carbon footprints can make a difference in the aggregate.
• And a lot more!

We’ve set an ambitious, science-based, climate goal to achieve net-zero emissions by our 30th anniversary in 2029. In 2022, CST became the first life science member of 1% for the Planet, with a commitment to donate 1% of our gross revenue to nonprofit organizations tackling our planet's most pressing environmental issues. Becoming a 1% for the Planet Business Member is an investment in ethical, relevant business and the future of our planet and people.

As scientists, we believe we must be leaders in this space and demonstrate to our peers, Customers, and collaborators that our sector can play a key role in advancing sustainability. We hope you will join us in this critically important work.

Taking Individual Action

Corporate goals like ours are essential, but we all have the ability to participate through sustainable actions in our individual lives—and what may seem like little things will add up. How can you make an impact personally? Here are some suggestions for sustainability at home to create positive change:

• Eat lower on the food chain and focus on more plant-based options.
• Practice minimalism and understand your impacts as a consumer. Make sure everything you buy and own is put to its maximum use. Donate items that don’t have to be trashed.
• Use your voice and your vote. Get politically involved in your community and at the national level.
• Focus on reducing, reusing, and then recycling.
• Grow your own produce and compost your waste at home.
• Think about how you commute, and explore alternative modes of transportation. Consider an electric vehicle (EV).
• Explore renewable energy and energy efficiency at home or talk to your landlord or property manager about opportunities.
• Educate yourself about healthier materials and understand what unnecessary, added chemicals of concern to avoid in daily products at sixclasses.org.
• Buy a right-sized home for what you (and your family) need.
• Stop unwanted paper mail.
• Change your laundry habits. Wash less frequently and on cold.
• Take shorter (and cooler) showers.
• Stop using plastic and purchase products that utilize less packaging. Skip single-use items altogether and use cloth napkins and dish towels instead of paper.
• Carry your own reusable shopping bags.

What is your impact? To calculate your ecological footprint go to footprintnetwork.org.