Every responsible business—especially science-based businesses—should think about making their operations more eco-friendly. If you work in a research laboratory, you can improve your processes and implement ways to make your research lab more sustainable.
Choose Reusable Equipment
When you buy a newer version of something, you’re likely to either throw away or sell the old version. While this is an excellent strategy for staying up to date on trends in your industry, it doesn’t bode well for the environment and leads to unsustainable practices—plus, this is an expensive way to do business. Instead of always looking for the next best thing, think about reusable equipment instead. There are dozens of myths about refurbished lab equipment, but they’re simply not true. If you want to commit to sustainable practices, think about investing in refurbished devices.
Thoughtful Waste Disposal
Research laboratories often work with biohazardous and toxic materials that could seriously harm the surrounding environment. While many security protocols can keep humans safe while working with these raw materials, certain procedures can also protect the environment. Think about ways to dispose of your waste thoughtfully. You should know exactly what happens to your syringes, gas tanks, and rubber gloves once they leave your facility. Look for ways to recycle as much material as possible and work with waste collection services committed to a greener future.
Convert Everything to Digital
Your research laboratory likely prints and records information on paper. While this may be the conventional way of operating, think about how much paper you could save if you converted your operations to digital spaces. Instead of printing your 500-page report, you could just save it to your desktop and email it to your colleagues. On top of the environmental benefit, you can also save your work in a reliable cloud and search for information more quickly in your databases.
Remember these ways to make your research lab more sustainable as you look for opportunities to change how you do business. While it requires a bit of time for new, sustainable practices to take root, imagine all the good you will do in future years with a lab committed to the earth.
