Category: Animal Facilities (mice)
Level: Bronze
Author: Millard R., Richards K., Waggott A., Wilson K.
The Impact: <p>Reduction in plastics sent to landfill as well as reduced carbon emissions associated with the manufacturing, and reduction in deliveries. </p>
Details
Disposable caging and bottles have become an available offering to facilities. However, their use on any significant scale means plastics sent to landfill, higher carbon cost of continuous deliveries to site and for removal of spent product. Durable plastic caging and bottle components can be used repeatedly, with manufacturers offering certain plastics a long lifespan (polyphenylsulpone carries an 8 year warranty within a vivarium environment as an example).
Disposable cages have been marketed in part due to benefits of energy savings of autoclaves, but they introduce a single-use plastic waste stream and signficiantly increase deliveries. This is similar for single-use water bottles. There are few scenarios in which the single-use versions can be justified, and validation must be provided where they are, and indicate if there are future plans to review their use.
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