The construction of a new lab can be a lot more sustainable

In the pursuit of a more sustainable lab world, the interior is also important. That is sometimes forgotten, says Elise La Grouw-Bont, business developer sustainability at INTOS, a full service specialist for interior finishing and furnishing buildings at home and abroad.

La Grouw-Bont describes the activities of INTOS: “We are originally an interior builder for the business market. We are good at looking at the total package, which is why we have increasingly grown towards total solutions. We do not design, only build. We now also build for hospitals, airports and laboratories. Within the laboratory market we do, among other things, the interior, such as lab tables and fume cupboards of our own design. But now we at INTOS are also active in the combination of interior construction and main contracting.”

According to La Grouw-Bont, there are still many sustainability goals to be achieved within this market segment: “As a manufacturing industry, we are of course a polluter. I want to make people more aware of that, because we often see that people forget that an interior can also be very polluting. The demand for sustainable interior construction from the market is still very limited. That has to do with two things: Firstly, we are at the end of the entire cycle. Often, the design and construction cost more than expected, and then the interior is often the last item. The second point is that lead times are too short.”

Choice of materials

INTOS claims to already be able to achieve its objectives: “We try to work with different materials, use less material and minimize sawing loss. We also ensure that our waste is processed properly so that new products can be made with it and the lifespan can be maximized. INTOS therefore looks beyond reducing energy consumption and adapting the vehicle fleet.”

The laboratory market has its own characteristics, says La Grouw-Bont: “In the lab world, the circular model is very difficult on the one hand and very easy on the other. High demands are placed on the materials, but the designs are often relatively simple.”

Sustainable Lab

INTOS participates in the Sustainable Lab project. La Grouw-Bont about this: “When we visit a customer, we look at what we can reuse in terms of materials, for example when redesigning an existing lab. This is often also cost-saving and you actually reduce the use of materials. For the material that we cannot reuse, we look at whether we or someone else can do something with it. Perhaps a carpenter can still make something beautiful out of it.”

“If we have to buy new material, what do we choose? Unfortunately, in the lab world, you can’t often choose biobased materials. For example, we look at recycled steel, but for Trespa panels that’s still a very difficult choice. Finally, we also look at whether we can reduce the CO2 footprint of the materials that we buy new. It’s sometimes quite a puzzle.”

And according to La Grouw-Bont, there is still much to be gained in the lab sector: “No sector is as conservative in its choices as the lab world. It is the sector in which we have the fewest sustainability requests, and we also serve airports. That is why we have an important role to play in making companies aware of this.”

Sustainable Lab Challenge

INTOS is one of the initiators of the Sustainable Lab Challenge. With the Sustainable Lab Challenge we call on laboratories and suppliers to share their sustainable solutions, ideas and tools. With the collected stories others learn how they can also take steps. Read all about this challenge here and also submit your own initiative.

Or participate in the Sustainability workshop in the Lab on Wednesday morning, September 28. During this workshop we will work on the theme together in an interactive way. You will receive tips and tricks to take the first steps towards sustainability in your own laboratory. Registering for a visit to the WoTS and this workshop is free and possible via this form.