Manufacturing facilities and laboratories usually require high energy consumption which results in increased carbon emissions. Based on studies, pharmaceutical companies produce 55% more carbon footprint than the automotive industry, and the healthcare sector alone comprises 4.4% of the greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.
Laboratories produce tons of waste yearly. A scientist alone can generate around 1 ton of plastic waste in a year. Common examples of waste from laboratories are gloves, pipette tips, glass bottles, and cardboard boxes, many of which do not go directly to landfills or incinerators. Although recycling can help in waste management, it does not lengthen product life and is not an option for most medical wastes. Adding to the plight is the excessive energy consumption of plug-load equipment such as freezers, incubators, and computers. These units are deemed necessary and cannot be substituted.
To address this pressing concern, scientists and researchers across the globe have taken initiative in their academic institutions or biopharma organizations to arrive at sustainable approaches in research. Green lab efforts continue to increase as researchers work towards reducing energy consumption, water use, and waste production. Below are various practices that researchers can take into account to reduce the collective carbon footprint in laboratories.
Turn off or unplug unused laboratory equipment.Consider energy consumption when purchasing new equipment.Turn off the lights when leaving the room.Keep appliances and frequently used equipment on a routine timer schedule.Clean your equipment regularly.
Properly dispose of hazardous materials.Reduce waste through various disposal methods such as sharing, redistribution, or recycling.Keep a logistical record of equipment to avoid unnecessary purchases.Switch from plastic to glass when possible.Use more environment-friendly chemicals when possible.
Choose equipment that is designed with water-conservation features.Wash the labware efficiently.Report dripping and leaking faucets.Install or use timers for critical or continuous water uses.Eliminate single-pass cooling.Maintain a cool room temperature to ensure optimal equipment efficiency.Keep door openings as short as possible.Limit the use of UV lights in biosafety cabinets.Clean and decontaminate the equipment regularly. Schedule preventive maintenance and re-certify equipment in compliance with standards.
Inquire about minimal packaging.Durability and efficiency outweigh the cost of purchase. Consider the cost of the initial purchase as well as the cost of operation and maintenance.Ensure that refrigerants have zero ozone depletion potential.Evaluate the storage requirements. Purchasing a larger unit ahead of time can help avoid making further purchases.Consider whether ducting is required or whether filtration system will suffice. Ducted units will consume more electricity.Upgrade to more energy-efficient equipment.