More and more laboratories are committed to sustainability and there are numerous initiatives: from reusable pipette tips to saving energy. But to make really big steps you need the entire chain. That is why suppliers will present the latest sustainable solutions for your laboratory during the World of Industry, Technology & Science from 24 to 27 September in Jaarbeurs Utrecht.
Laboratories are often large consumers of energy, materials, and water, and produce significant amounts of waste. The shift to more sustainable laboratory management can not only reduce environmental impact, but also save costs and improve safety. Sustainable measures are no longer an option, but a necessity.
Sustainable working in practice
Sustainable change starts with small adjustments that together make a big difference. Think of optimizing processes, reducing waste and choosing sustainable alternatives. By creating awareness and implementing small changes, you can have a positive impact.
Start by taking a critical look at your daily activities. Take energy consumption, for example: Freezers and refrigerators often use more energy than they need to. By optimizing the temperature settings of these appliances—for example, turning a freezer from -80°C to -70°C—you can achieve significant savings without sacrificing the integrity of your experiments. Think about lighting, too; switching to energy-efficient LED bulbs and using motion sensors can help prevent unnecessary energy consumption.
You can also take sustainability into account when setting up your research and experiments. Think critically about the number of measurements you do, are they really all necessary? Scaling down can save resources in many cases. There is also increasing attention for sustainable analysis methods, such as supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC).
Suppliers
To make real progress towards a more sustainable laboratory, collaboration with suppliers and other stakeholders is essential. By jointly striving for sustainable solutions and innovations, we can make the entire chain more sustainable and have a positive impact on the future of the environment. Therefore, enter into discussions with suppliers and ask sustainability questions in tenders.
During the X-pedition sustainability at the World of Industry, Technology & Science you will come into contact with companies that offer sustainable solutions for laboratories. You will follow a tour along six participating companies and through interactive demos you will gain practical insight into the latest innovations and get inspired to get started yourself.
On Wednesday 25 September you will follow the seminar Sustainability in the lab. Three experts will give practical tips to make your lab more sustainable and discuss challenges such as safety and making chain agreements. We will conclude with a panel discussion in collaboration with Green Labs NL.
Nederlands