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Lab technician picking a FluidX tube from a rack

Tackling Life Sciences Consumable Waste: A Path to Sustainable Innovation

January 20, 2025

Scientific research is the cornerstone of innovation, but it can come at an environmental cost. In the pursuit of scientific advancement, life sciences laboratories have become significant contributors to global plastic waste, where consumables like pipette tips, gloves, and culture flasks are essential for experiments. Unfortunately, these items are primarily single-use and plastic-based, leading to significant waste. Despite representing only 0.1% of the global population, scientists generate approximately 5.5 million tons of plastic waste annually, accounting for about 2% of global plastic waste1.

The environmental impact of laboratory plastic waste is multifaceted. Plastics discarded from labs often end up in landfills or oceans, polluting ecosystems and harming wildlife2. Recognizing these issues, there is a growing movement towards sustainable laboratory practices. Initiatives such as promoting recycling and adopting reusable materials are among the strategies being employed to mitigate the environmental footprint of scientific research.

Addressing the environmental impact of life sciences research requires a shift toward sustainable practices. A comprehensive approach not only benefits the environment but also improves lab efficiency and reduces costs3.

A Path Forward

As part of its commitment to sustainable science, Azenta Life Sciences will increase the use of recycled polypropylene in the FluidX sample storage consumables range. To support this initiative, from January 2025, all SBS tube rack bases will be manufactured with up to 90% recycled polypropylene, sourced from repurposed material generated during the production of FluidX sample storage tubes. This recycled material meets the same stringent quality standards as existing racks, ensuring reliable and consistent performance.

Global Product Manager – Alexis MacLeod commented:

“This shift to recycled polypropylene aligns with Azenta’s Environmental and Social Governance (ESG) commitments, creating a more environmentally sustainable product. By reducing waste and decreasing reliance on virgin polypropylene, we continue to deliver the high-quality solutions you would expect from Azenta Life Sciences while promoting more environmentally responsible practices and a more sustainable future”

The advanced manufacturing process employed by Azenta Life Sciences ensures its sample tubes and racks offer unequalled sample audit traceability, enabling sample tracking and data sharing between multiple users, labs, locations, and automation capabilities. Working across a wide range of industries including biobanking, compound management, consumer genomics, synthetic biology, and basic research, Azenta Life Sciences is committed to providing the highest levels of customer service, support, and quality.

By adopting innovative waste-reduction strategies, the scientific community can minimize its environmental footprint without compromising groundbreaking discoveries. Sustainable research practices ensure that science not only solves today’s challenges but also safeguards the planet for future generations.

References

1. Seize the lab waste day, Chemistry World, Opinion, 30 April 2020 https://www.chemistryworld.com/opinion/reducing-plastic-waste-in-the-lab/4011550.article

2. With experiments, comes waste: Scientific waste and where it ends up, Misci Writers, 5 January 2021 https://misciwriters.com/2021/01/05/with-experiments-comes-waste-scientific-waste-and-where-it-ends-up

3. The importance of waste segregation, Axil, 9 September 2021 https://axil-is.com/blogs-articles/waste-segregation/

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