Attend the Go green! Innovative practices for laboratory waste symposium at LabCentral in Cambridge Massachusetts

New England Biolabs and Labconscious invite life scientists and sustainability professionals to attend our Go green! Innovative practices for laboratory waste symposium.   Science funding productivity and changes to worldwide recycling markets have been trending topics this year.  Attend our symposium and get up to date on new solutions with environmental and economic benefits for life science work.  

Register here to guarantee your spot! https://go.neb.com/GoGreen2018

DATE:  Thursday, December 6th, 2018 
LOCATION: LabCentral,  700 Main Street, Cambridge, MA
TIME:  Arrive at 10:00 AM

The day will be comprised of three sections: 

10:15 - 11:15 AM:  Keynote speakers 

Allison Paradise, CEO of My Green Lab
Labs discard an estimated 12 billion pounds of plastic annually worldwide.  Plastic, nitrile, styrofoam, cardboard, and other waste streams are highly visible to anyone in life science research, and finding alternatives to landfill disposal can seem overwhelming.  Allison will focus on concrete actions the scientific community can take to reduce waste in the lab, including reusing materials, recycling when possible, and reducing waste through smarter procurement choices.

Ali Safavi, CEO of Grenova and inventor of the TipNovus  
Ali will discuss the growing plastic waste problem, the contribution of lab plastics to the waste stream and operating expenses, and how Grenova technology offers a risk-free solution that can aid in the reduction of plastic waste.  

Schuyler Stuart, Triumvirate Environmental 
Triumvirate’s presentation we will address waste diversion and mitigation in the lab space through downcycling.  Regulated medical waste management and sustainable outcomes as made possible by Triumvirate’s Red2Green program will be discussed.


11:15 - 11:45 AM:  Panel discussion on cost-effective and eco-friendly tips for life science lab waste
Allison Paradise, CEO, My Green Lab
Ali Safavi, CEO, Grenova
Schuyler Stuart, Account Manager, Triumvirate
Suzanne Wood, Sustainability and Energy Manager UMass Medical School, National EPA waste wise winner 
Quentin Gilly,  Senior Sustainability Officer, Harvard University, Leader in Green Labs  
Veronica Rajadnya, Public Relations Officer, Terracycle  

11:45 - 1:00 PM:  Networking lunch provided by New England Biolabs

1:00 - 4:00 PM:  Sustainable life science labs fair
The afternoon vendor fair will host a variety of vendors leading the green efforts, including: My Green Lab, Labconscious, Triumvirate Environmental, Grenova, Save that Stuff, USA Scientific,TerraCycle & more!

Due to space constraints, registration is encouraged for the morning sessions & networking lunch.  The vendor show will be open to the public. 

 
Featured
Planning a Green Fair for Biologists
Planning a Green Fair for Biologists

Most biologists welcome opportunities to learn about environmentalism. A green fair is a great way to increase awareness and commitment to environmental justice and sustainability in life science work. Let’s review some tips for planning a successful green fair for biologists.

The Ways Fly labs Go Green
The Ways Fly labs Go Green

Drosophila researchers around the world have taken steps to green their lab operations while maintaining good laboratory practices. These efforts include preventing material waste, energy conservation, and leveraging the attributes of this model organism to reduce the need for testing in mammalians. We hope you are inspired by the initiatives of these green labs!

De-Fossilizing Lab Plastics
De-Fossilizing Lab Plastics

In life science, it’s often plastic-polluted ecosystems that firm our resolve to limit the environmental impacts of our lab work. Let’s take a moment to recognize a new category of lab plastics as a welcome step forward in sustainability.

Green Labs are Removing UV Lamps from Tissue Culture Biosafety Cabinets
Green Labs are Removing UV Lamps from Tissue Culture Biosafety Cabinets

UV decontamination lighting has been incorporated into biosafety cabinets for decades, and persistently over-relied on for decades in cell culture work. Green labs are removing UV lamps from biosafety hoods to eliminate risks and save energy. It’s a simple action that overcomes energy waste in the right setting.

Lab signage: How to create clear calls for eco-friendly actions
Lab signage: How to create clear calls for eco-friendly actions

Signage is an important tool for turning lab initiatives into established lab culture. A sign shows the path to sustainability. The types of signs typically used in lab facilities can come in the form of posters, stickers/decals, and digital, or even three-dimensional displays. No matter which format, it’s good to know best practices.

How Labs Can Avoid Polluting Waterways (and What to Do Instead)
How Labs Can Avoid Polluting Waterways (and What to Do Instead)

In June 2020, the small town of Merrillville, IN, received a visit from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). Merrillville is home to Microbac, a laboratory that offers analytical testing services for food, environmental, antimicrobial products, and pharmaceuticals. With more than 20 facilities across the United States, they are required to follow local water regulations, in addition to safety data sheets. However, what the IDEM found was not in line with either.

Ways that Labs Can Reduce Plastic Packaging Waste
Ways that Labs Can Reduce Plastic Packaging Waste

Plastic packaging often gets a bad rap (wrap?). And rightly so — approximately 5.5 million tons of plastic is produced annually in life sciences laboratories. While it provides essential protection and labeling for products, its impact on the environment calls for action. Fortunately, there are ways laboratories can reduce their waste from plastic packaging.

The Pros and Cons of Wet, Semi-dry and Dry Transfer for Western Blots
The Pros and Cons of Wet, Semi-dry and Dry Transfer for Western Blots

This widely used immunoassay to probe samples for specific proteins and posttranslational modifications has potential time and material savings associated with variations of the transfer step. Whether it’s a simple buffer switch, or a more involved equipment swap - it’s always worthwhile to explore lab workflow efficiencies. Just take care not to risk a successful blot!

Fetal Bovine Serum : Is it time to find a new growth supplement?
Fetal Bovine Serum : Is it time to find a new growth supplement?

Fetal bovine serum, or FBS, has been a staple in cell culture practices for decades. However, multiple ethical issues and market supply challenges surround its use. Here’s a rundown of the issues around FBS, why scientists are looking for other options, and some alternative products to consider.

Alcohol-based tissue fixation in place of formaldehyde, that’s the spirit!
Alcohol-based tissue fixation in place of formaldehyde, that’s the spirit!

Formaldehyde fixation may be the gold standard for preserving cells and tissues but alcohol-based fixation can deliver improved results in many biomolecular techniques - with the benefit of safer, greener chemistry.