DO YOU WORK IN A CHEMISTRY LAB?

Are you spending a lot of time searching for samples in a crowded and disorganized fridge?

Is your lab's freezer damaging your samples due to improper temperature control?
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Are you struggling to find ways to reduce your lab's carbon footprint?
We Invite You to Join the 2025 Freezer Challenge

​As a chemist, you know how crucial it is to keep your samples properly stored and preserved. By participating in the Freezer Challenge, you'll have access to resources and support to help you:

  • Organize your laboratory fridge or freezer: Optimize space and improve organization to access samples easily.
  • Ensure sample stability: Store samples at proper temperature and humidity levels to maintain their integrity.
  • Reduce waste: Minimize waste generation due to improper labeling, storage, or contamination.
  • Save valuable research time: Optimize cold storage use, reduce clutter, and ensure proper labeling for efficient sample retrieval.
  • Improve your laboratory's sustainability practices: Reduce energy consumption and carbon footprint for a more sustainable future.

What is the Freezer Challenge?

The Freezer Challenge is a global competition for laboratories, designed to promote best practices in cold storage management. It harnesses the spirit of competition within and between laboratories to achieve greater energy efficiency, sample, integrity, sample access, risk prevention, and cost savings.

The International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories (I2SL) and My Green Lab are partnering together for the seventh year in a row to run the 2023 International Laboratory Freezer Challenge!

Quick Facts

Any laboratory in the world with cold storage units can participate!

It's a free competition! No cost to participate!

Are you up for the challenge?
​If your lab uses ultra-ultra low temperature freezers (-150 °C), ultra-low temperature freezers (-70 °C to -80 °C), lab freezers (-40 °C to -20 °C), or lab refrigerators you can earn points in the Freezer Challenge by taking any combination of actions listed below. In the majority of situations, earn 1 point for each action taken per cold storage unit. 

You can learn more about the cold storage best practices included in the Freezer Challenge here. The best practices are grouped into four categories:
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  • Good Management Practices
  • Temperature Tuning
  • Retirements & Upgrades
  • Cutting-Edge Practices

​Awards are given to those labs and research organizations who have done the most to save energy and improve their sample storage.

Need More Info?

Check out our FAQs and watch the Freezer Challenge video below-
The Freezer Challenge is a program coordinated by the non-profit organizations
​My Green Lab® and the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories, and sponsored by various companies with an interest in promoting the most energy efficient cold storage options.
Global Reach of the 2024 International Laboratory Freezer Challenge