Caltech has launched a new lab supply reuse program designed to reduce waste, lower procurement costs, and strengthen laboratory sustainability across campus. The Green Labs ReStore officially opened in November at the Alles Laboratory for Molecular Biology, offering researchers and lab managers a centralized space to donate and reclaim new or gently used laboratory supplies at no cost. For labs managing tight budgets and growing sustainability expectations, the program provides a practical alternative to purchasing new materials.
The initiative is led by Caltech’s green labs program within the facilities sustainability department and builds on earlier supply rehoming efforts across campus. By formalizing reuse in a dedicated, visible location, the ReStore turns ad hoc exchanges into a structured operational resource that lab managers can integrate into routine inventory and cleanout planning.
How the lab supply reuse program works
The green labs ReStore functions as an in-person exchange space where members of the Caltech community can drop off or pick up surplus laboratory supplies, including glassware, consumables, and small equipment. The space was repurposed from a former stockroom in the Alles building, allowing the program to launch without new construction or major capital investment.
Before opening the physical ReStore, the green labs team piloted an online exchange platform, the Caltech Green Labs Marketplace, in March 2025. Vijaya Kumar, a research technician in the Division of Biology and Biological Engineering and a member of the green labs program, helped launch the site with support from her daughter, Sarah Kumar. According to Tasha Cammidge, green labs coordinator, participating labs redistributed approximately $65,000 worth of supplies through the online marketplace between March and August.
“After we had this initial push where we had a lot of people donating things, a lot of people taking things, we could see it almost trickling off,” Cammidge says. “I was just worried it would stop, so I thought to myself, ‘What if we used a physical space for this?’”
Early cost savings and waste reduction
The response to the ReStore’s opening demonstrates the operational value of a centralized lab supply reuse program. On the first day alone, 250 items were rehomed, saving more than $5,800 in avoided purchasing costs and diverting approximately 63 kilograms of material from landfill disposal. With that activity, cumulative internal reuse savings exceeded $70,000 and continue to grow each week.
In addition to direct cost savings, the green labs program notes that reuse can help reduce upstream impacts associated with manufacturing, packaging, shipping, water use, and energy consumption. While these impacts are not always visible at the individual lab level, they contribute to institutional sustainability reporting and broader environmental goals.
Student involvement supports ongoing operations
The ReStore is primarily operated by undergraduate student employees who manage inventory, maintain the Green Labs Marketplace website, and calculate cost and waste savings. Students Aarohi Patel, Tuyako Khristoforova, and J.T. Tran support daily operations, helping ensure consistency and reducing the administrative burden on research groups.
“I thought the idea of the ReStore was very cool—taking things that people don’t usually use and putting them in a place where other people have access to them,” Patel says. “It’s a great method of recycling. I love that everything is free of cost and gives us the opportunity to save a lot of money across campus.”
Lab Quality Management Certificate
The Lab Quality Management certificate is more than training—it’s a professional advantage.
Gain critical skills and IACET-approved CEUs that make a measurable difference.
Turning surplus inventory into a sustainability asset
For lab managers, Caltech’s green labs ReStore offers a replicable model for addressing common operational challenges, including surplus inventory, limited storage space, and rising supply costs. A centralized reuse program can reduce unnecessary purchasing, streamline lab cleanouts, and support laboratory sustainability goals without disrupting research workflows.
The ReStore also illustrates how collaboration between facilities, sustainability teams, and academic divisions can translate informal reuse efforts into measurable operational programs. As Kumar notes, “The ultimate goal is to just reduce, reuse, and recycle, and keep that going for as long as we can.”
This article was created with the assistance of Generative AI and has undergone editorial review before publishing.
