Laboratory sustainability is designed to both protect our environment and to target laboratory operational efficiency. Today, lab efficiency is being tested as scientists tackle vaccine development., low lab stocks and lab disinfection concerns.
Read MoreECCC Aquatics Labs ensured transparency for a new mixed lab plastics recycling program
A team of nine women working in the aquatics labs at the Centre St-Laurent (CSL) in Montreal has launched a lab plastic recycling program that overcomes some of today’s biggest challenges - #1 finding a service that will accept mixed lab plastics and #2 making the process user-friendly. Most importantly, this lab recycling program establishes transparency.
Read MoreCould Ozone be used to overcome single use plastic waste in cell culture?
Cell culture vessels are one of the most challenging areas of single-use plastics to consider eliminating from biology labs. Never known for complacency, scientists are seeking are already seeking higher performance to optimize cell culture conditions. From a “labconsicous” perspective, ideally, both cell culture growth conditions and sustainability could be improved. This post considers a controversial idea. Could a system for reusable mammalian cell culture plastic flasks ever be developed?
Read MoreUniversity of Cambridge Chemists collaborated with Genlab engineers to design a faster, safer and more energy efficient lab dryer: the E3
Scientists depend on an ecosystem of supporters to run laboratories. Today’s blog features a collaboration initiated by University of Cambridge chemists with Genlab engineers, that resulted in a revamp of the humble lab drying cabinet. The result of this design collaboration is the e3. It’s a machine that dries faster, has precise digital temp settings and can save 72% of energy.
Read MoreGo Green and Maximize Laboratory Productivity with AI lab equipment monitoring
There’s a common misconception that going green is expensive and a distracting obligation for large organizations. Few realize that it’s possible to create a greener lab space while actually reducing costs! Artificial intelligence tools can offer significant insight to any organization. Laboratories can reduce energy consumption and thus save money while simultaneously increasing lab productivity and protecting precious lab samples. Let's examine this technology in further detail.
Read MoreTackling Waste: 5 Steps to Less Plastic Waste in the Lab
Life sciences laboratories are another area in which plastic waste can be reduced. Approximately 5.5 million tons of plastic waste are produced every year in life sciences laboratories alone, including items like pipette tips, nitrile gloves and cell culture flasks. In the age of global waste pollution and the ubiquity of plastic in the world around us, this is definitely too much. It can’t all be changed, but improvements are possible in some areas.
Read MoreRheaply’s Virtual Lab Surplus Platform is a semi-finalist for VERGE19 Accelerate
To get to the stage at VERGE, Rheaply is depending on scientific community members (like YOU) to vote by August 30th. This would not only be an opportunity for Rheaply’s platform to be seen by many. It’s a big opportunity to promote awareness of the millions of tons of surplus and equipment that could be shared by scientists across the country.
Read MoreRefill not landfill: The Campus Refill Initiative
Molecular biology grad student Samantha Romanick brings environmental stewardship to campuses by advancing re-fill and re-use options for all. Read her interview and watch her talk to learn more!
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