Category: Wet Labs
Level: Silver
Author: Schell B., Hermuth-Kleinschmidt K., Scagliotti V., Weber P.,
The Impact: <p>Reduce supply-chain impacts and save money </p>
Details
Single-use items contribute substantially to waste generation, emissions, and procurement costs. Many of these items can be replaced with reusable, longer-lasting alternatives without compromising research quality or biosafety. By reviewing the single-use items consumed most frequently and identifying applications where reusable options are feasible, research groups can significantly reduce their environmental impact.
Examples include switching from plastic to glass, reusing robust packaging materials, or adopting labware designed for sterilisation and multiple cycles of use. When reuse is limited by infrastructure constraints - such as lack of washing or autoclaving capacity - groups should communicate these needs through financial ROI assessments.
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