Sustainability and environmental stewardship efforts are becoming globally normalized practices. Laboratories, renowned for innovation in this space, have an opportunity to implement elegant solutions while progressing toward greener practices.
A “green lab” promotes sustainability by reducing environmental impact through conservation of resources and waste reduction. A fundamental concept for achieving this balance is circular economy, a model designed to keep materials in use and out of landfills. This article explores how labs can adopt circular economy practices by rethinking resource usage and tracking their impact. By identifying strategies for implementation and highlighting measurable benefits, lab leaders can demonstrate that sustainable science is not just within reach but essential for our future.
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Understanding the circular economy in laboratory practices
Definitions and core principles
The circular economy is a transformative framework that aims to eliminate waste by keeping resources in use for as long as possible. In lab settings, this means engineering workflows, infrastructure, and supports to maximize the reuse of equipment, consumables, and chemicals.
Circular economy replaces traditional "use and discard" methods by implementing sustainability-focused core principles including material and resource longevity, recovery, and renewability. For labs, this translates into practices like high-value instrument repair, implementing waste segregation for recycling, and recognizing the essential role of plastics while seeking lower-impact alternatives. Biobased plastics, derived from renewable resources, offer a promising avenue to complete the same valuable work with lower carbon footprint. The goal is to build a system where labs thrive while reducing their environmental impact, balancing functionality with sustainability.
In contrast to the circular economy, some laboratories operate using a linear economy framework characterized as “take-make-dispose” by taking raw materials, making lab equipment, products or consumables, and then disposing of them as waste. Laboratories typically generate large quantities of hazardous and non-hazardous waste, including single-use plastics, electronic waste, and surplus chemicals. According to estimates, labs contribute significantly to global plastic waste, with millions of tons generated annually. Beyond waste, this linear model strains natural resources, accelerates landfill use, and amplifies carbon emissions through energy-intensive manufacturing and disposal processes. The linear system, though entrenched, is unsustainable in the face of growing environmental challenges.
Transitioning to a circular economy
The circular economy philosophy is driven by sustainability. Understanding these crucial principles is important for guiding the lab’s environmental efforts. However, implementing a new operational framework can be daunting. Fortunately, pre-existing frameworks such as the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals or the My Green Lab initiatives can provide working examples with actionable guidelines, certifications, and tools to help laboratories reduce their environmental impact.
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Strategies for implementing circular economy practices in the lab
Proper procurement and maintenance of equipment
Circular economy-centric labs must prioritize durable equipment that can meet both immediate and future needs, but this requires planning. When designing or updating your circular economy lab, key strategies for equipment procurement and maintenance include:
- Invest in high-quality equipment designed to withstand repeated operation
- Preserve equipment with routine maintenance schedules and detailed logs
- Prioritize modular designs for easy repair, upgrades, and replacement
- Collaborate with sustainability-minded vendors through manufacturer partnerships for purchasing, maintenance, and refurbishment
- High-cost or specialized instruments could be purchased through shared facilities or funding sources to reduce costs
Material and chemical recycling
Recycling programs tailored to circular economy principles are vital for reducing the impact of consumables and chemicals. To integrate effective recycling practices into lab operations, follow these guidelines:
- Create segregation systems specific to lab materials for separating general waste, recyclables, and hazardous waste
- Use specialized services for recycling non-hazardous single-use plastics, such as pipette tip boxes and packaging
- Enhance recycling accessibility with conveniently placed and clearly labeled recycling bins
- Repurpose or share unused chemical reagents and solvents through inventory-sharing platforms
- Consider in-house recycling practices such as solvent purification systems to clean and reuse solvents for multiple experiments
- Train lab personnel on recycling protocols and emphasize proper waste segregation
Reducing redundancy in lab resource usage
Long-term management of resource utilization requires excellent recordkeeping and materials tracking. To reduce waste and operational costs by reducing redundancy, consider implementing these practical steps:
- Conduct routine resource audits to identify areas of overuse, inefficiency, or redundancy
- Buy consumables in bulk to minimize packaging waste and reduce ordering frequency, but be sure to not purchase beyond what the lab needs as you will then run the risk of generating additional waste due to expired excess
- Coordinate with other labs to consolidate orders and share resources
- Standardize and digitize workflows, inventories, and data output in centralized hubs
- Educate and encourage lab members to adopt mindful practices such as identifying which consumables in your lab might be reused
- Design experiments with resource efficiency in mind
Measuring the impact and benefits of a circular economy
Quantifying the impact of circular economy practices is essential to demonstrate their value and inform further improvements. Laboratories can use metrics such as:
- Amount of waste diverted from landfills, incineration, and waste to energy
- Reductions in single-use plastic consumption
- Tracking carbon emissions related to operations, procurement and waste management
Partnering with vendors to align with sustainability goals
Transitioning a lab into circular economy-centric practices requires crucial inputs from like-minded suppliers and vendors. Partnering with companies that prioritize more sustainable practices helps ensure that environmental goals are respected during the procurement of materials and equipment. Seek out vendors offering recycling or refurbishment programs for used items, such as pipette tip boxes, solvent bottles, and electronic equipment, to facilitate recycling or refurbishment.
Fostering a circular economy mindset and lab culture
The success of a circular economy lab depends on the collective commitment of lab personnel. Promoting a culture that values sustainability begins with education and awareness at onboarding and throughout an employee’s work experience. Inspire team members to learn new techniques or protocols by hosting workshops, seminars, or training sessions on sustainable practices. You can also consider getting your lab certified through the My Green Lab certification program, which is considered the gold standard for laboratory sustainability best practices around the world.
Reinforce positive behaviors and maintain enthusiasm by celebrating successes, such as achieving recycling milestones or rewarding employee innovations. Encouraging inter-departmental collaboration to share best practices or resources can also foster a sense of community and shared purpose. Don’t underestimate the positive mental health benefits that employees can enjoy knowing that their work is performed with reduced harm to the environment.
Laboratories as leaders of innovative sustainability
As laboratories look for methods and examples of how to transition toward sustainability, the circular economy model demonstrates a compelling framework for achieving these goals. By reconsidering how resources are produced, used, and maintained, labs can minimize waste. The transition to a circular economy within the lab isn’t without challenges such as limitations on the recycling of complex materials, increased complexity of supply chains, and resistance from the status quo. However, adhering to these principles isn’t just an environmental necessity—it’s an investment in the future of science and us.