Green Lab Tips
Our green lab tip articles can help biologists to reduce laboratory waste, use green chemistry, conserve water and save energy.
Replace your mercury lamp fluorescent microscope light source with a Lumencor light engine, to exceed the spectral properties of the mercury arc lamp, save energy and eliminate hazardous mercury.
See: Lumencor light engines http://lumencor.com/company/company-mercury-free/
credit: Lumencor
Drosophila researchers around the world have taken steps to green their lab operations while maintaining good laboratory practices. These efforts include preventing material waste, energy conservation, and leveraging the attributes of this model organism to reduce the need for testing in mammalians. We hope you are inspired by the initiatives of these green labs!
In life science, it’s often plastic-polluted ecosystems that firm our resolve to limit the environmental impacts of our lab work. Let’s take a moment to recognize a new category of lab plastics as a welcome step forward in sustainability.
UV decontamination lighting has been incorporated into biosafety cabinets for decades, and persistently over-relied on for decades in cell culture work. Green labs are removing UV lamps from biosafety hoods to eliminate risks and save energy. It’s a simple action that overcomes energy waste in the right setting.
Signage is an important tool for turning lab initiatives into established lab culture. A sign shows the path to sustainability. The types of signs typically used in lab facilities can come in the form of posters, stickers/decals, and digital, or even three-dimensional displays. No matter which format, it’s good to know best practices.
In June 2020, the small town of Merrillville, IN, received a visit from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). Merrillville is home to Microbac, a laboratory that offers analytical testing services for food, environmental, antimicrobial products, and pharmaceuticals. With more than 20 facilities across the United States, they are required to follow local water regulations, in addition to safety data sheets. However, what the IDEM found was not in line with either.
Plastic packaging often gets a bad rap (wrap?). And rightly so — approximately 5.5 million tons of plastic is produced annually in life sciences laboratories. While it provides essential protection and labeling for products, its impact on the environment calls for action. Fortunately, there are ways laboratories can reduce their waste from plastic packaging.
This widely used immunoassay to probe samples for specific proteins and posttranslational modifications has potential time and material savings associated with variations of the transfer step. Whether it’s a simple buffer switch, or a more involved equipment swap - it’s always worthwhile to explore lab workflow efficiencies. Just take care not to risk a successful blot!
Fetal bovine serum, or FBS, has been a staple in cell culture practices for decades. However, multiple ethical issues and market supply challenges surround its use. Here’s a rundown of the issues around FBS, why scientists are looking for other options, and some alternative products to consider.
Formaldehyde fixation may be the gold standard for preserving cells and tissues but alcohol-based fixation can deliver improved results in many biomolecular techniques - with the benefit of safer, greener chemistry.
Labconscious is an open resource for biologists to support sustainability and green laboratory work to reduce the environmental footprint of bench science.
New England Biolabs | 240 County Road, Ipswich, United States
Most biologists welcome opportunities to learn about environmentalism. A green fair is a great way to increase awareness and commitment to environmental justice and sustainability in life science work. Let’s review some tips for planning a successful green fair for biologists.