As we celebrate Earth Day, it's the perfect time to examine how our scientific pursuits impact the planet. Research laboratories are undoubtedly engines of innovation, but they also generate a staggering amount of waste. From single-use plastics to outdated instruments, the environmental footprint is substantial.
However, change is happening, and the growing adoption of simple “green lab” practices brings a crucial step towards the goal of an ecologically sustainable scientific breakthrough.
Why Lab Waste is a Problem
A single lab researcher can generate nearly a ton of plastic waste annually [1]. According to a comprehensive study in Nature, a popular weekly scientific journal, biomedical researchers worldwide produce approximately 6 million tons of plastic waste each year. When taken into perspective, you could consider it to be roughly equivalent to 83 billion pieces of plastic bags - and most concerning of it all is how 95% of this waste ends up incinerated or in landfills rather than recycled [2].
Top Sustainable Lab Practices for Earth Day and Beyond
In celebration of Earth Day, we’re spotlighting sustainable lab practices that help reduce lab waste and improve efficiency.
There are many innovative approaches to plastic waste cutting that you could use
Improve your lab's environmental footprint by switching to reusable glass labware wherever possible — such as Erlenmeyer flasks and traditional glass pipettes — to reduce reliance on single-use plastics. Implement in-lab washing and sterilization systems for compatible plastic labware to extend usability and minimize waste.
Upgrade to high-precision laboratory instruments that require smaller sample volumes, conserving both reagents and consumables. When plastic is necessary, opt for eco-friendly laboratory supplies like thin-walled pipette tips or tubes that use less material without compromising performance. For non-critical workflows, consider adopting tip-washing systems to further reduce disposable tip usage and support a more sustainable lab environment.
Cold Storage Optimization
Another way to reduce the environmental footprint is connected to laboratory freezers. The ultra-low temperature (ULT) freezers used for sample storage in research facilities and biobanks are one of the most energy-intensive equipment.
A single -80°C freezer can consume approximately 20-30 kWh of electricity daily - an equivalent to the energy use of an average U.S. household [3]. With many institutions maintaining hundreds of these units, the cumulative impact is substantial.
A simple adjustment of temperature can make a dramatic difference to this, as changing temperature from -80°C to -70°C was reported to reduce energy consumption by up to 34% with no impact on sample integrity for most applications [4]. Regular maintenance like defrosting and discarding of unneeded samples can additionally reduce costs and increase energy savings [5].
The Environmental Impact of Scientific Instruments
Freezers aren’t the only culprit, as high-precision analytical instruments like mass spectrometers, magnetic resonance machines or chromatography systems are energy-intensive both in use and during manufacturing processes. This is because rare earth elements required for producing them are also mined in power hungry operations that can release up to 1.5 tons of radioactive waste per ton [6].
While general laboratory equipment (like a vortex or a minicentrifuge) does not consume nearly as much power, when laboratories upgrade their equipment older instruments often end up discarded. This adds on to piles of so-called “eWaste” - used electronic devices that are nearing the end of their useful life. In 2024, the amount of electronic waste has risen five times more than documented e-waste recycling [7].
That is why another effective approach to reducing laboratory waste and promoting sustainability is the adoption of refurbished equipment.
Power of Refurbished Lab Equipment
Since manufacturing new laboratory instruments requires significant raw materials and energy you can reduce the demand for new resources and lower carbon footprint by opting for a certified pre-owned instrument. The circular economy [8] approach involves the repair, reuse, refurbishment and remanufacturing of instruments past their life cycle even with single components.
Modern refurbished equipment isn't what it used to be as today's professional refurbishment processes include comprehensive standards and a lot of component testing. Pipette.com offers a wide range of refurbished centrifuges, offering a cost-effective solution for your budget-conscious labs. Known for its ISO-accredited calibration and repair services, it offers a full calibration certificate to go right away with your refurbished product together with a one-year warranty.
Sustainable Lab Products to Consider
As we celebrate Earth Day, the scientific community has an opportunity to demonstrate environmental leadership. By embracing refurbished equipment and other sustainable laboratory practices, researchers can reduce their environmental impact without having to make a compromise on scientific excellence.
After all, even small changes across thousands of laboratories will create a meaningful global impact.
Join the Earth Day Movement
Download Our Free Coloring Page
Embrace a moment of mindfulness with our lab-inspired Earth Day coloring page. It's a free tool for you, your team, or your little lab assistants at home to download, print, or color digitally, sparking creativity and connection to nature. And Pipette.com!
Use any color palette you like — get creative, make it bold, or keep it classic. Science meets art, your way!
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Not Just Any T-Shirt...
These are Pipette Enthusiast Club shirts — created for our most loyal science heroes.
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References:
- Nature - Labs should cut plastic waste too
- The World Bank - What A Waste
- NRG Clean Power - How Many kWh per Day Is Normal?
- Thermo Fisher - Reduce costs, while continuing to safeguard samples
- NEMS - 2024 NIH Freezer Challenge
- Exposure, Metabolism, and Toxicity of Rare Earths and Related Compounds
- The global E-waste Monitor 2024
- Giving Analytical Lab Instruments a Second Life
