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A guidebook for sustainability in laboratories

A guidebook for sustainability in laboratories
Contributors
Thomas Freese
PhD Candidate | University of Groningen
Renate Kat
Suzanne Lanooij
University of Groningen
Tanja C. Böllersen
University of Groningen
Maurits De Roo
University of Groningen
N Elzinga
University of Groningen
MBeatty
Toulouse Biotechnology Institute
Brian Setz
University of Groningen
Roza Weber
University of Groningen
Irene Maltagliati
University of Groningen
Timea Gandek
University of Groningen
Peter Fodran
University of Groningen
Robert Pollice
Assistant Professor | University of Groningen
Michael Lerch
Assistant Professor | University of Groningen
Logo of the Green Labs team at the University of Groningen, Netherlands.
Summary
This guidebook aims to improve lab users’ everyday practices to become more sustainable. Specifically, this guidebook provides practical suggestions on how to effectively use lab instruments and resources and how to acquire data. We provide advice to labs covering disciplines such as biology, chemistry, computational science, engineering, life sciences, materials sciences, medicine, pharmacy, and physics. As every lab is different, alternative measures may be required, advice may be outdated or not applicable, and sometimes laboratories may not be able to comply with the measures of other laboratories.
Keywords
Sustainable Laboratories
Green Labs
Energy Efficiency
Water-Resource Management
Chemical Education
Waste Prevention
12 Principles of Green Chemistry

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Moderation state
Published
Object Type
Assessments
Case studies
Videos (e.g., tutorials, presentations)
Books
Audience
High School (Secondary School)
Introductory Undergraduate
Upper/Advanced Undergraduate
Graduate or Professional Training (e.g., Postdoctoral Fellows, Early-Career Professionals)
Other Faculty Educators/Teachers
Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S)
Published on
Green Chemistry Principles
Waste Prevention
Atom Economy
Less Hazardous Chemical Syntheses
Designing Safer Chemicals
Safer Solvents and Auxiliaries
Design for Energy Efficiency
Use of Renewable Feedstocks
Reduce Derivatives
Catalysis
Design for Degradation
Real-Time Pollution Prevention
Safer Chemistry for Accident Prevention
U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Good Health and Well-Being
Quality Education
Clean Water and Sanitation
Affordable and Clean Energy
Responsible Consumption and Production
Climate Action
Life Below Water
Partnerships for the Goals
Learning Goals/Student Objectives
The learning goals of this guidebook are directly related to the environmental footprint of laboratory research and science. Scientific research and experiments in a laboratory generate vast amounts of waste in the form of chemicals or (single-use) plastics. Furthermore, devices and equipment such as fumehoods and ultra-low temperature freezers (-80) consume as much energy as several households. These factors contribute to the carbon footprint of laboratory practices. This guidebook aims to reduce environmental issues in science and research by giving hands-on advice on actions that can be undertaken directly in a laboratory setting. Next to reducing the carbon impact of laboratory practices, the users will find that recommended measures will lead to reduced costs and enhanced cost efficiency.
Common pedagogies covered
Collaborative/cooperative learning
Problem-based learning
Student-centered learning

Submitted by

Thomas Freese
Reviewed by
Julian Silverman
Safety Precautions, Hazards, and Risk Assessment
Utilizing sustainable laboratory practices is directly connected to safety and health. Closing sashes of fumehoods not only saves up to 67% of energy but is also much safer for the researchers working in the laboratory. Prioritizing benign and sustainable solvents is less harmful to the environment and the researchers themselves. Rightsizing and proper planning of experiments not only avoid unnecessary waste production but also lead to improved working conditions per experiment.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.59877/FCXC3888

File (PDF, PPT, image, etc)

File (PDF, PPT, image, etc)
a_guidebook_for_sustainability_in_laboratories_v1.1.pdf
Link to external
Preprint on ChemRxiv, 2023.
Explanatory video on sustainable laboratory practices at the University of Gron…
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.