10 Sustainable Choices For Your Laboratory In 2023 Which WON’T Break The Bank

Sustainability can be an expensive endeavour. It’s 2023, budgets are being squeezed, yet decreasing the carbon footprint in laboratories should always be a priority. In an industry where single-use plastic is the norm to ensure research quality and reproducibility, it doesn’t mean lab users can’t choose to make little steps NOW, to contribute to a greener future.

As someone who sees such a plethora of sustainable solutions, mixed with a bit of greenwashing, sometimes you really do see some gems of products and solutions. Here’s a couple which hopefully can make a difference, whilst in some cases, saving you money!!

1.                   Green Solvents - Replacing traditional solvents with eco-friendly alternatives can significantly reduce the environmental impact of your laboratory. In particular, Merck seem to be leading the way on this one, and in particular have a range of Bioethanol produced from corn, amongst many other products.

See more here: https://shorturl.at/nuyO6  

2.                   Buy Concentrated Disinfectants – Yes, buying pre-made diluted disinfectants or wipes may be easy, but the associated CO2 from transport can add up! Switch to a concentrated solution and make up the working quantities yourself, which reduces deliveries, single-use plastic spray bottles and wipes. Tristel have innovative chlorine dioxide-based disinfectant systems which are rather neat! Using the concentrated capsule or bottle, dilute as needed. 1 Litre of concentrate can make 2000 doses of disinfectant to add to the lab roll you have in every lab!

See more here: https://shorturl.at/CHNU5  

3.                   Biobased Plastics – Single-use plastics are a necessary evil in the scientific field, yet given only 0.1% of the population are scientists, contribute ~2% of plastic waste worldwide. Biobased plastic technologies have come in leaps and bounds in recent years, especially with the release of Eppendorf’s ‘Biobased’ range. They are made from 90% renewable resources e.g. used vegetable oil, yet still conform to the exacting Eppendorf quality they are known for. Comparatively expensive in comparison to traditional lab plastic, yes, but they will only get cheaper! First to be released were their centrifuge tubes, and released in June 2023 is their full range of Biobased tips!

See more here: https://shorturl.at/hqt19

4.                   Biodegradable Gloves - Whilst having little use if you work in a lab environment where gloves are incinerated, these are an interesting technology which can be a good alternative for those labs just needing a barrier for your skin. They degrade within 5 years in landfill, rather than the typical 100 years!

See more here: https://shorturl.at/hilPZ

5.                   Arvensis Bio-composite PCR Plates - The frame of these Arvensis Bio-composite PCR Plates are made from plant-based materials and account for 46-50% of the plate! As most plates are incinerated anyway, this cuts your single-use plastic in half, whilst still getting the performance of polypropylene wells.

See more here: https://shorturl.at/uCLT2

6.                   Corning CoolCells - Freezing your cells/samples uniformly can be a challenge, in the past this has been done with cheap plastic containers and isopropanol. CoolCells have an innovative design that enables faster and more uniform freezing, leading to improved cell viability, and you don’t have to use Isopropanol! They also are made of a resilient type of foam which should far outlast the plastic alternatives.

See more here: https://shorturl.at/swT49  

7.                   Freezer Temperature and Maintenance: By regularly defrosting your freezers and increasing the ultra-low temperature (ULT) set point to -70°C, you can optimize their energy efficiency. ‘My Green Lab’ performed a study which showed you can reduce the energy consumption of your ULT by 30-40% whilst retaining sample quality.

See more here: https://shorturl.at/eghv6

8.                   Pipette Tip Box and PPE Recycling: Implementing a recycling program for pipette tip boxes and personal protective equipment (PPE) can significantly reduce plastic waste generated in your laboratory going to landfill. A lot of companies now offer FREE OF CHARGE pipette tip box recycling. If you haven’t made the leap, now is the time!

See more here: https://shorturl.at/wABEK

9.                   Duran Silicone Lids: Why not switch from single-use plastic lids or foil to Duran silicone lids! These lids provide a reusable and durable alternative, reducing plastic waste while maintaining the integrity of your experiments. Not to mention, that they come in funky colours!

See more here: https://shorturl.at/evBDT  

10.               Smarter Pack Sizes: Think before you buy! Do you need to buy racked centrifuge tubes in polystyrene, when you already have tube racks in the lab? Can you buy an extra pack or bulk order, and re-organise your cupboards to find an extra bit of space? Reducing deliveries adds up in the long term, and can decrease your carbon footprint from associated transport CO2 with minimal effort!

By adopting these ten sustainable choices in your laboratory, you can make a positive impact on the environment while being mindful of your budget. Each of these options contributes to a greener and more sustainable laboratory without compromising scientific integrity or performance. Let's work together to create a better future by embracing these sustainable choices!

Eppendorf Group My Green Lab Arvensis Unigloves Merck Group DWK Life Sciences Tristel Global

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The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely my own and do not reflect the views or opinions of my own, or any other organization. I write as an individual sharing insights and perspectives on laboratory sustainability. Your feedback and comments are welcome and appreciated as we collectively work towards a more sustainable future for science and research

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