This week, we are celebrating Zero Waste Week, an annual campaign dedicated to encouraging sustainable waste management practices in the UK. Since its inception in 2008, Zero Waste Week has inspired individuals and organisations to reduce their waste footprint and adopt more sustainable habits. In line with this initiative, and in an effort to support our customers, we are thrilled to share our top tips for minimising laboratory waste.

1. Reduce or reuse packaging

If you’re trying to reduce your lab’s landfill waste, one of the easiest things to cut down on is packaging. Every product that comes into the lab is securely packaged both individually and as part of the wider shipment. While some of the packaging waste can’t be avoided (e.g. sterile products that require individual packaging, products with a limited shelf life that need frequent replenishing etc.), there are still actions you can take to minimise waste.

One effective strategy is to order in bulk where possible. This reduces the frequency of shipments and therefore the amount of packaging material used. Focus on bulk ordering items with no expiry date, such as PPE, pipette tips, and centrifuge tubes. Additionally, you can reuse packaging materials such as boxes and padding for storage within the lab or for re-shipping purposes. This is a practice that SLS has incorporated into its internal operations and is now an essential part of our efforts towards more sustainable practices. If you’re interested in learning more, you can read about it in our latest Sustainability Report.

2. Opt for solvent recycling

If you’re looking to step up your lab’s sustainable practices, you should consider implementing a solvent recycling program. This will enable you to recover and purify solvents for reuse, reducing waste whilst also lowering the costs of purchasing new solvents. Take acetone and ethanol for example - both highly popular in laboratory applications, they can undergo distillation and recycling up to 10 times before reaching degradation! Plus … this will greatly reduce your contribution to hazardous waste. According to Business Waste UK, approximately 400 million tones of hazardous waste is generated across the world annually, with the UK contributing approximately 3 million tonnes. These statistics are worrying, and it is time for organisations to take proactive steps to minimise their impact.  

3. Sometimes, less is more …

While bulk ordering is a great way to reduce packaging waste, you must be mindful of the longevity of the products you order. Chemicals, antibodies, and enzymes are just some of the products with limited shelf-life where best practice is good inventory management and often, to buy less. This approach prevents the accumulation of excess stock that could turn into waste. Moreover, it reduces the need to dispose of large quantities of hazardous materials, which often require special and costly waste management procedures.

Curious about our lead times for perishable items? Contact us to get detailed information on stock levels, delivery times, and the best purchasing options tailored for your needs.

4. First-in, first-out

Use the FIFO method to ensure older supplies are used before newer ones. This will reduce the likelihood of waste generated due to expired materials. To effectively implement this method, start by organising storage areas with clear labels, placing newer items at the back and older ones at the front. Label each item with its receipt or expiration date and maintain a detailed inventory system (either digital or manual) to track all items.

Are you due to stock up on your chemicals soon? Why not add some supplies to help keep your inventory organised? Check out our offers on labels, laboratory notebooks, label printers and cartridges to ensure you have everything you need to keep your lab running smoothly.

5. Minimise single-use items

There’s no better time than the present to start implementing strategies to reduce the use of single-use plastics. Small changes in purchasing behaviour such as replacing disposable plastics with glassware can significantly cut your laboratory’s landfill waste. Glass pipettes, test tubes, and petri dishes are just a few of the items that can be sterilised and reused multiple times.

Start reducing your dependence on disposable plastics with our top recommendations below:

Pipettes -> Glass pipettes

Petri dishes -> Glass petri dishes

Bijou bottles -> Glass bijou bottles

Test tubes -> Glass test tubes

Weighing boats -> Weighing scoop/glass

Would you like to learn more about improving sustainability in the lab?

Contact our Sustainability Manager Lucy Moore – lucy.moore@scientific-labs.com or visit our dedicated sustainability subsite.