Background

Most people who work in a lab are familiar with the situation: at the end of a lab day, another bag of plastic waste is already full. According to one study [1], 5.5 million tonnes of plastic waste is generated in life science laboratories every year. But how can we reduce the amount of plastic we use? After all, pipette tips are not easily replaceable, sterile materials are essential in cell culture to avoid contamination, and the use of plastics is convenient and time-saving in the hectic daily laboratory routine. However, a number of solutions are now available. Based on the 6 R’s (Refuse, Reuse, Recycle, Replace and Rethink), we present best practice tips and possible solutions for everyday laboratory life. Manufacturers of plastic labware are also aware of the problem and more and more products made from “bioplastics” are appearing on the market. In the workshop we will take a closer look at these alternatives, as there are significant differences. Bio-based plastics are made from different materials that have different environmental impacts and carbon footprints. After the workshop, you will be able to better classify these materials and choose the most environmentally friendly option.

In this three-hour workshop you will:

• Discover what options are available to reduce or replace plastics in the lab.
• Get best practice examples that laboratories have already implemented.
• Get background information, facts and figures on alternative bio-based plastic materials.
• Develop your own ideas to get started.

In addition, there will be a one-hour follow-up workshop (online) after the summer break in September to share results and experiences.

[1] Urbina, M., Watts, A. & Reardon, E. Labs should cut plastic waste too. Nature 528, 479 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/528479c