Sustainability in the Lab: Getting Started

The question is not whether sustainability in the lab should be on the agenda, but which measures have the highest priority. And there is the crux: where do you start?

With the Sustainable Lab Challenge we have called on laboratories and suppliers to share their sustainable solutions, ideas and tools. We share these ideas with others, so that they too can take action.   

Many ideas were also discussed during the sustainability lab workshop on September 28. Below you will find an overview of all this input and some useful presentations and links. Hopefully it will give you inspiration to get started on this important theme yourself.

The laboratory is a major consumer of energy, materials, plastics and water. We will therefore work on that first. We then give some practical tips. We provide an overview of how suppliers deal with sustainability and finally we discuss the steps you can take to initiate a movement towards sustainability in your own lab.

 1.    Solutions to reduce energy consumption

Marit de Kort from Green Labs Netherlands gave a number of accessible tips during the workshop:

• Fume hood: lower the hood.

• ULT freezer: participate in the freezer challenge. For example, set your freezer from -80°C to -70°C. Clean out your freezer and keep track of what is in the freezer, this will also save you from losing the cold due to looking for samples.

• Benchtop equipment: determine whether you can always turn it off, sometimes turn it off or always leave it on. Work with stickers on the device so that every user knows where they stand. This way you prevent idle consumption.

• IT: make sure your software is always up to date and store your data in one place. Use smart algorithms to reduce data production. Also take a look at this green-algorithm.org. Put your computer on energy save mode.

Leiden University of Applied Sciences has completed a large number of projects to promote sustainability in the lab. The lab rooms were equipped with conventional fluorescent lighting. The lighting has been adjusted to LED lighting, which has resulted in a saving of 70% on the previous electricity consumption. In addition, the light quality has been improved by increasing the color temperature from 3000 to 4000 Kelvin. This has been very well received by users of the laboratories: the slightly cooler light contributes to the concentration of employees and students.

In addition, the vast majority of existing close-up boilers for hot water have been replaced by instantaneous boilers. This saves energy (electricity) because the instantaneous boilers only bring the water up to temperature when requested (45°C). While the close-up boilers keep the water at a constant high temperature (65/70°C). A tip is to consider whether hot water is necessary at all. The biggest saving is of course eliminating unnecessary facilities, such as hot water.

Leiden University of Applied Sciences has also purchased an electricity consumption meter that can be used to see which devices use a lot of electricity. This can lead to (old) appliances with high consumption being replaced by more energy-efficient ones.

In 2021, the University of Applied Sciences started the 'freezer challenge'. An old minus 80°C freezer has been replaced by a new and slightly smaller one. The ultra low freezers are set at minus 70°C as standard and not at minus 80°C degrees. Next year, all freezers and refrigerators will be inventoried and old ones (less energy efficient) will be replaced and it will be checked whether the contents can be combined. Consideration is also being given to setting up a database to include all samples/materials, in order to reduce searches in freezers (cold loss) and to promote more efficient use of the freezers.

2. Solutions to reduce material use and waste

Think about the 5R's of sustainability:

• Refuse

• Reduce

• Reuse

• Recycle

• Repurposing

The Alrijne Zorggroep measures when chemicals need to be changed. So not every week as standard, for example, but after so many uses. They are also starting up a project to look hospital-wide at a type of formalin jars and to be more careful about the size used. Too often very small material is supplied in a pot that is proportionately too large.

The UMC Groningen deals with waste more sustainably, so they collect their waste carefully. This also applies to the Styrofoam boxes they receive when delivering (refrigerated) chemicals and equipment. The Styrofoam is stripped of all labels and tape by the logistics department. The clean EPS is mechanically ground and compressed. The residual product is a raw material for new products.

Did you know that plastic bottle caps are worth money? At least, for KNGF Guide Dogs. KNGF Guide Dogs receives a compensation per kilo. So do not throw away the caps of empty chemical bottles, plastic tubes, etc., but also the "mats" from refillable pipette tip boxes, but hand them in at one of the depots. Not only do you support the training of our guide dogs, but you also protect the environment. All caps together have now raised tens of thousands of euros.

Also see: https://geleidehond.nl/steun-ons/kom-in-actie/doppen-sparen

Leiden University of Applied Sciences has a policy of discouraging the purchase of chemicals that are harmful to the environment. If a compound is not yet in their possession, before approval is given to purchase it, it must be checked whether this substance is not (very) harmful to the environment. In principle, these connections are not ordered.

3.  Solutions to reduce water consumption

Awareness is an important aspect in reducing water consumption. The use of stickers can also help here. Leiden University of Applied Sciences goes further than that and has realized a number of projects to reduce water consumption in the lab rooms.

Removal of cold water taps

A total of eighty taps have been removed from the lab rooms for legionella control. The approach here was actually safety, but the side effect is sustainability! Previously, taps that were rarely used were rinsed regularly, as part of the legionella prevention plan. Below is a small calculation of how much water was used during the weekly rinses: 5 to 6 liters per minute for rinsing. Rinse for about 10 minutes until the water is cold enough. For the removed taps, the water saving amounts to: 5 x 10 x 80 = 4m³ water saving per flushing round, so per week.

Efficiency of demineralised water installation

A less obvious project was improving the demineralized water installation. This did not work well. The Technical Management department has paid attention to the efficiency of this installation. The installation used too much salt and too much water. The installation now works properly again. The salt that is no longer consumed in excess no longer enters the water treatment plant's treatment plant.

Recirculation coolers

Six recirculation coolers have been purchased for specific equipment (Rotavap and ICP). The cooling water is not flushed down the sink but reused.

 4.  Even more practical tips…

Many practical examples have been collected for the Sustainability in the Lab Challenge. Read below how your colleagues are working on sustainability.

TotalEnergies

In-use lubricating oil is analyzed in the petrochemical laboratory of TotalEnergies (LubANAC Department). Oil and/or solvent absorbent cloths were always placed on the work tables to protect the tables against contamination, leaks, scratches, etc. These cloths were replaced daily, which resulted in 260 kilograms of non-recyclable waste per year, from this waste stream alone.

These cloths have now been replaced by silicone anti-slip mats, specially developed for laboratory applications. The mats now come in two sizes, available for purchase via Merck: “Reversable silicone lab mat”)

ITK

ITK sends written-off computers and laptops to Africa for a second life. Laboratory equipment that is no longer used, but still works well, is donated to schools for the training of laboratory technicians, or is sold through Labmakelaar or another partner.

A preventive maintenance contract is provided for the most critical equipment, on the one hand to guarantee proper operation, but on the other hand to extend their lifespan. They still have devices that are used daily and that are more than 20 years old (some even 30 years old).

When purchasing new equipment, power consumption is taken into account. The choice is often made for a slightly more expensive device if its power consumption is lower.

Leiden University of Applied Sciences

Leiden University of Applied Sciences gives a number of general tips:

• With each installation, consider whether it is really necessary, taking into account the power consumption.
• Efficiently adjust necessary installations so that they do not unnecessarily consume electricity or other resources that are harmful to the environment.
• When purchasing equipment, consider sustainability aspects, such as freezers, ice machines, flow cabinets, dishwasher (but also washing program) and stoves. Let sustainability play a role in tenders for lab materials and chemicals.

With all the tips and tools submitted by Leiden University of Applied Sciences, they win the Sustainable Lab Challenge Award 2022!

 5.  Sustainable solutions from suppliers

Agilent

Agilent recently received Green Lab certification for a demo lab. Due to the experiences with their own lab, they are also better able to advise customers on how they can save energy and water and reduce waste in their own laboratories. To help labs become more sustainable, Agilent offers a variety of resources, products and services, including:

Digital Lab Services

The CrossLab Connect digital technology makes laboratories more efficient and sustainable through automated monitoring, planning and calibration of laboratory equipment. This results in less energy, waste and solvents/reagents.

Durable products

Many of Agilent's laboratory instruments use less energy and produce less waste. For example, the Intuvo 9000 gas chromatograph uses an efficient direct heating system that requires less than half the electrical power of a conventional gas chromatography, while also significantly reducing the heat energy radiated in the laboratory.

Agilent labels many products with an “eco-nutrition” label, which indicates to users the environmental impact of the product. And through the Sustainable Packaging Program, they're working to ship products with sustainably sourced packaging materials that are easier to recycle.

Agilent also provides a few general tips, some of which have already been discussed:

• Promote awareness in your organization: be aware of what you use and throw away every day and consider alternatives.

• Turn off lights and equipment when not in use and close the fume hood. Cooling ultra-low temperature freezers from -80°C to -70°C can reduce energy consumption by a third.

• Work with suppliers to achieve sustainability goals. Talk to suppliers about their instruments and how energy efficient/resource intensive they are.

• Consider options for reuse and recycling of both products and packaging. Agilent, for example, offers trade-in programs for instruments.

 Isogen Life Science

A huge number of plastics are used once in laboratories worldwide. By using these plastics more sparingly, laboratories can become enormously more sustainable. Isogen offers customers of Starlab pipette tips the following sustainable measures: Reduce, Reuse, Refill, Recycle.

• The latest generation TipOne pipette tip already reduces 43% plastic compared to the older generation tips.

• Using Refills so that the pipette containers are reused results in a reduction of plastics up to 63%.

• Pipette containers can be autoclaved up to 200 times.

• Return and sustainable recycling of used plastic.

With this solution, Isogen Life Science has won the Sustainable Lab Challenge Awards 2022 for suppliers.

Labolutions

Labolutions recently offers the innovative development of the most sustainable laboratory worktops, with up to “85% biobased carbon content”. These worktops are equipped with Trespa Toplab, made from a renewable material. A combination of quality and sustainability.

 6.  How do I take the first steps in my own lab

During the workshop of September 28, Marcel Braam from SGS shared a method for starting an improvement project in your own lab. These steps are summarized in the phases Plan – Do – Check – Act.

 In the planning phase you start collecting data.

• Study Cost Overview – Focus Utilities

• Breakdown cost item – Utilities

• Floor plan of the laboratory

• Divide the building into zones

• Collect technical specifications of the zones

• Overview of equipment in the zones

• Look for the 'hot spots'

• Use the following tools: 5G walk – 5W+1H – Brainstorm (4M)

You will create an overview of proposals for improvement, including the expected savings that the improvement will yield and the name of the person responsible. In the do phase you start working on the improvement proposals and in the check phase you compare the initial situation with the new situation and state the results. Make sure that improvements are also included in the working procedures. If an improvement is not included here, the initiative will be lost as soon as new employees start working, for example. You do this in the act phase.

Download Marcel Braam's presentation here with all the tips for following this method.

Download Marit de Kort's presentation here with all her tips.

Thanks to:

This project was made possible with the support of Greiner Bio-One, LabMakelaar Benelux, KRSS Europe and Intos interior builders.

With many thanks to all entrants of the Sustainable Lab Challenge 2022, Marit de Kort from Green Labs Netherlands and Marcel Braam from SGS.