Sustainability starts at the source
At Future Fields, our mission is to combine nature and technology to improve life on earth.
In line with our mission, we work to integrate environmental, social, and economic sustainability into the core of our operations.
It's greener to give
Future Fields is now a proud member of the 1% for the Planet® community.
United Nations Global Compact
Future Fields is proud to be the first Canadian recombinant protein manufacturer to unite with thousands of other companies globally in responsible business action.
Certified green lab
Future Fields was awarded the highest level of certification (Green) by My Green Lab in 2023.
ACTing on our environmental ethos
ACT = Accountability, Consistency, and Transparency.
Future Fields' serum-free growth factors are the first in the world to obtain the ACT Label. This premier eco-label highlights Future Fields’ dedication to producing sustainable recombinant proteins.
Current Initiatives
Commitment to Sustainability
Our vision is a future where embracing the full human experience does not compromise the health and viability of humanity and the planet—a future where the innovative bioproducts that feed, heal, and fuel the world have a net positive impact on people, animals, and the natural environment.
At Future Fields, we are committed to ensuring that our business practices fully support this vision. We aren’t striving for perfection, but we know that every climate action counts.
Sustainability Committee
Our Sustainability Committee works on identifying new and improving current sustainable practices in the lab and throughout the company. This is a crucial step in our advancements towards a more sustainable production process.
As a committee, our mission is to integrate environmental, social, and economic sustainability into the core of our operations.
My Green Lab
My Green Lab is a global non-profit organisation with a mission to build a global culture of sustainability in science. MGL offers sustainable lab certification as well as ambassador accreditation programs. Future Fields was awarded the higest level of certification (Green), and is members of both the My Green Lab Ambassador group and the My Green Lab Science Leaders in CSR group. Future Fields has also signed the Million Advocates for Sustainable Science letter campaign.
Waste Management
Plastics No More
We minimise single-use where we can, but some is unavoidable in a lab setting. For these, we collaborate with Level 7 Plastics, a local organisation, to take our used lab plastics and turn them into consumer goods.
Styrofoam 2.0
Our supply chain inevitably uses styrofoam. To minimise our impact, we collaborate with Styro-Go, a Canadian company striving to help industries transition to a zero waste economy. Styro-Go collects Future Fields’ used Expanded Polystyrene (EPS, or Styrofoam) and densifies it into bricks that can be recycled into other products.
Cooler Than Ice
We receive a plethora of ice packs for our lab shipments. To increase their usage, we sanitise and donate our ice packs to Edmonton's Meals on Wheels, a local non-profit that provides home-delivered meals and food services to those in need. Meals on Wheels uses the ice packs for their own food storage and delivery operations. A sustainable win-win for biotech and the community!
Repurposing Facilities
Our office and lab is currently located in a 14,000 square feet brownfield development in downtown Edmonton. Originally built on the rail line for industrial storage, the facility has also been a mechanical shop, a home builders' studio, and a pop-up art hall. By repurposing this brownfield development as our headquarters, we're able to prevent additional environmental degradation from building on greenfield land.
How We Ship
Currently, we ship our products in a lyophilised state.
Compared to traditional shipping methods (which often use ice), shipping lyophilised products is lighter and faster.
It also requires less styrofoam and less energy for freezing, as well as reduces the likelihood of spoilage.
Accelerating Systemic Change
For International Women's Day 2024, Future Fields partnered with UN Global Compact Network Canada to develop a case study promoting gender equity in the workplace.
Guided by a GBA+ framework and featuring insights from our COO, this case study includes operationalized policies and practices that encourage Future Fielders to have the time and space to be their best selves, striving to create an ideal workplace for the team (and their families).
Biology, for better
Our EntoEngine™ harnesses the genetic prowess of the common fruit fly. We deliberately chose Drosophila melanogaster (D. mel) as our recombinant protein expression system because of its sustainable advantages.
Compared to traditional recombinant protein production methods, our insect-based EntoEngine™:
• Uses less water and energy
• Has a smaller land footprint
• Emits less GHG
• Has valuable “waste products,” contributing to the circular economy
We see a future where embracing the full human experience does not compromise the health and viability of humanity and the planet.