Industrious Labs: Recommendation

Last updated in November 2024.

Industrious Labs is one of the top climate nonprofits selected by Giving Green in 2024. We previously recommended Industrious Labs in 2023 and 2022.

Heavy industries like steel and cement are the building blocks of the global economy. They account for approximately one-third of greenhouse gas emissions but have not been a major focus of governments or philanthropists. Industrious Labs focuses on scaling industrial decarbonization advocacy by designing and implementing campaigns targeting corporate actors and governments to adopt policies to transform the sector. Critically, through coalition building, regranting, and training, it is scaling advocacy well beyond its own organization.

Industrious Labs is a relatively new organization that has shown considerable progress in pushing forward multiple campaigns in just over two years. We also think Industrious Labs has substantial growth potential. It is building dedicated teams for each of its industry-specific campaigns, and there is considerable room to deepen existing campaigns and add new sectors. We are excited about its potential for impact because it is focused on a highly neglected area, its leadership has a track record of success, and comprehensive industry-specific strategies will pull on the right levers to drive heavy industry transition.

For more information, see our deep dive on Industrious Labs, a summary below, and our broader report on decarbonizing heavy industry.

What is Industrious Labs?

Launched in 2022, Industrious Labs is a US-based environmental organization that aims to strategically coordinate other organizations to decarbonize heavy industry.

How could Industrious Labs help address climate change?

Industrious Labs expects its activities to prompt more heavy industry producers to switch to low-carbon production more quickly than they otherwise would have, resulting in reduced emissions sooner.

What does Industrious Labs do?

Industrious Labs’ strategy has four levers:

(1) it runs campaigns for steel, aluminum, landfill emissions, industrial heat, and cement;

(2) it provides open-source data and analysis;

(3) it collaborates with communities and partner organizations; and

(4) it increases media attention on the sector.

These levers work in tandem to create an evidence base and momentum for systemic change in decarbonizing heavy industry.

What’s new in 2024?

In October 2024, Industrious Labs launched North America-focused campaigns targeting landfill emissions, steel, and aluminum. It has recently launched a cement campaign and a state-based industrial heat campaign.

What would Industrious Labs do with your donation?

Donations would help Industrious Labs build its campaigns, expand its work internationally, support its capacity-building and environmental justice efforts, and increase its capacity to conduct in-depth analyses.

Why is Giving Green excited about Industrious Labs?

Giving Green is excited about Industrious Labs’ focus on long-neglected industries, actionable industry-specific strategies, and the strength of its leadership team. In its early days, it has shown substantial convening power, evidenced by the strong networks it has built across campaigns.

Explore ways to give to Industrious Labs and more.

Support for Industrious Labs' charitable climate advocacy runs through a Single Entity Fund of Tides Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. This is a non-partisan analysis (study or research) and is provided for educational purposes.