42 Sample Collection Containers are Leading the Change
Sustainability is a word that is often used in today’s world, and companies are spending signifi cant time and effort on this topic. The laboratory setting is not immune to this discussion. Labs are notoriously using large quantities of plastic consumables and for good reason. Plastics in the lab are shatter proof, durable, lightweight and single use products reduce cross contamination and often lead to ease and speed of use. Initiating change in a laboratory setting, however, can be challenging. Stringent experimental procedures are commonplace in labs and scientists are trained to follow these procedures day in and day out. The attributes of a good scientist are not always compatible with a mindset for change.
The term sustainability as it relates to plastic consumables generally defaults to a discussion around recycling. Can the product be safely recycled and is the lab set up to make this activity convenient? Although important, recycling is not the only thing that should be considered. One question that typically gets lost in the discussion is how can we reduce the amount of plastic we use at the start? As a part of its overall waste management strategy, the US EPA has developed a Waste Management Hierarchy which shows source reduction as the most preferred tool, followed by reuse of materials and fi nally recycling. Simply put… reduce, reuse, recycle. The order here is important, as the greatest impact we can have on sustainability is through the reduction in overall use.
One very pertinent example of reducing overall plastic consumption in the lab is using fl exible sampling containers in place of rigid plastic. Whirl-Pak®
sterilised sampling bags were
developed over 60 years ago to take fl uid milk samples for transport to the lab. Today, this fl exible package is recognised as the Gold Standard in a multitude of industries across a geography that spans over 75 countries. Not all industries, however, have embraced this sampling format and as we are all aware, old habits can be hard to change.
A perfect example of an industry ripe for a change in sampling procedures is the water industry. Of the hundreds of millions of water samples taken each year, the majority are sampled in rigid, single-use plastic containers. On average, these rigid containers are produced using 5-10 times the plastic that would be needed to produce a comparable size Whirl-Pak®
sustainable solution is available but initiating change has been diffi cult. Products compared in this study were Linear Low-Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) Whirl-Pak®
bag. A more bags and Polypropylene (PP), Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), and High-Density Polypropylene
(HDPE) rigid containers. Variables were assessed for environmental impact across the attributes of fossil fuel use, greenhouse gas emissions and water use. For conciseness we will only show the 100ml results below. Similar trends were observed for the 500ml sized containers.
The study assumed one million containers shipped 1,000 km and the data was segregated into material usage, manufacturing, transport and end of life categories. In all product comparisons, the Whirl-Pak®
gas emissions, less water usage and an overall lower environmental impact was observed throughout the entire life cycle when utilising Whirl-Pak®
sterile sampling bag was signifi cantly more sustainable than the three common rigid containers used in water collection. Less fossil fuel use, lower greenhouse bags.
Even though a sustainable alternative is identifi ed, cost considerations can weigh heavily on the decision to implement changes. Budgetary constraints can limit even the most highly motivated lab manager. In the case of fl exible sampling solutions like Whirl-Pak®
storage and waste disposal can also be realised. The savings are further magnifi ed if your lab is supporting international initiatives where shipping long distances is required.
When it comes to embracing a sustainable approach in the laboratory setting, focus on small yet meaningful changes that can make a measurable impact. Replacing rigid plastic sample collection vessels with fl exible solutions like Whirl-Pak®
bags can be the beginning of your journey towards a more sustainable work environment.
More information online:
ilmt.co/PL/x1Zy 59684pr@reply-direct.com
bags, not only can the container itself reduce overall costs but hidden savings associated with shipping,
INTERNATIONAL LABMATE - FEBRUARY 2023 - ADVERTORIAL
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