The Future of Sustainable Laboratories: Eco-Friendly Practices and Green Solutions

Laboratories play a part in keeping the world turning, and just like any business, have a duty to work efficiently and with green solutions in mind. Regardless of what research and development is being conducted, it’s important to find ways to help reduce waste, keep operations green and cultivate sustainability where possible.

With that being said, what does the future hold for laboratories? Here are some eco-friendly practices and green solutions that are worth embracing this year.

Waste Reduction

Waste reduction is probably one of the most important changes to make when it comes to running a sustainable lab. Just like any business, a lot of waste is generated, and this can often have a harmful effect on the environment, especially when it’s not disposed of properly.

Labs can help to minimize their waste production through a number of strategies. These include implementing waste reduction programs that every department is involved in. Using reusable labware and adopting online strategies that help to streamline waste in other ways.

Sustainable Materials

Being a sustainable laboratory is great news for the environment and definitely something to consider when it comes to making your practices more eco-efficient.

Any laboratory can start shifting over to more sustainable materials when it comes to operations and construction. The use of biodegradable plastics and eco-friendly packaging is just two ways to get started.

There’s no excuse nowadays to find a more eco-friendly version of the products and supplies you’re using.

Improved Appliances and Equipment 

It’s always good to maintain and improve appliances and equipment within the workplace. That means replacing any equipment or appliances that have seen better days and aren’t as productive for the environment as they used to be.

It can also be helpful to look into fume hood manufacture that are incorporating sustainable materials into their designs to better their products, much like anything you have in your lab.

Energy Efficiency

Improving energy efficiency is definitely an important one, and so the use of low-emission fume hoods and energy-efficient lighting is a good example of where to start. Your laboratory is going to be producing a lot of carbon emissions, so finding ways to significantly reduce this energy consumption is helpful.

Implementing energy-efficient systems, such as energy-efficient lighting and low-emission fume hoods, can significantly reduce energy consumption and related emissions. 

Training and Education

Training and education for your staff is a great way to develop and empower your workforce to make informed decisions on sustainability. The more they can learn, the more it fosters an eco-conscious environment amongst all your workforce and not just the few.

Look at what educational materials you could make use of for your laboratory technicians.

Digitization of Processes

Integrating digital tools and online databases can be helpful to reduce the amount of paper being used within the workplace. This is something that a lot of businesses can make use of, but laboratories can use Electronic Laboratory Notebooks (ELNs) to keep all their important notes in order and without damaging the environment through paper usage.

The future of sustainable laboratories starts now, so find ways to improve your efforts and be greener in today’s environment.