Over 100 labs join Sustainability Weeks to drive green practices

Starlab International's sixth annual Sustainability Weeks, held from 7 to 25 October exceeded expectations with over 100 laboratory participants across Europe, up from 85 in 2023. The series included live events in the UK, Germany, France, and Italy, alongside six webinars, drawing around 3,000 participants in total.

The goal of Sustainability Weeks is to integrate sustainability directly into laboratory operations and foster discussions on green practices at the European level. Starlab President & CEO Klaus Ambos reflected: “Sustainability is no longer a trend; it’s a long-term strategic focus.” Data from the Starlab Mood Barometer confirms this shift, with 9 out of 10 laboratories recognising the growing importance of sustainability in their work.

Laboratories are already implementing sustainable practices, with 95% working to reduce waste, 92% reducing energy consumption, and 75% altering ordering habits to cut transport emissions and packaging waste. Additionally, 72% hold regular environmental training, and over a third now choose sustainable or reusable products. “These figures clearly demonstrate that sustainability is being actively embraced, not just talked about,” said Ambos.

A highlight of the event was Starlab’s tradition of planting cacti, with over 2,700 plants given a new home in reused TipOne racks. These racks were brought by participants, symbolising Starlab’s commitment to sustainability and creative reuse. “The cacti serve as a reminder of how laboratory waste can be transformed into something useful and inspiring,” Ambos added.

Sustainable practices such as recycling, energy efficiency, and using eco-friendly materials can reduce a laboratory’s carbon footprint by up to 30%, according to a recent study published in The Journal of Cleaner Production.

Looking ahead, Starlab plans to expand its Sustainability Weeks, engaging more laboratories across Europe and continuing to showcase sustainable practices, particularly through its TipOne tip system. The Starlab recycling service, already in use by many labs, will also expand to other European countries in the near future. “Our commitment to sustainability is ongoing, and through these initiatives, we aim to reduce the environmental footprint of research activities,” concluded Ambos.

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