Looking for ways to cut down on cold storage costs and energy consumption? The International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories’ (I2SL’s) Circular Economy for Laboratories Community of Practice co-hosted a Freezer Forum with My Green Lab on August 28 from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. Eastern. Learn from experts on how to reduce cold storage energy and emissions. Phil Pipitone of Energy Solutions presented on the energy and emissions reductions that can be achieved by upgrading to high-efficiency, ultra-low temperature (ULT) freezers, and how to find incentives to help finance these energy-efficient upgrades. Leoncio Lagarde of the University of Colorado (CU) Boulder presented on CU Boulder’s Shared ULT Freezer program. University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB) Green Labs Coordinator Emily Colpack shared best practices from UAB’s freezer cleaning and maintenance program for labs.

Lab plastics—while often promoted for safety and health purposes—can pose a major waste issue in research facilities. Many of these single-use items cannot be recycled in typical or special recycling programs, and even those with take-back programs can cause storage and contamination challenges. But are there good alternatives available for single-use plastics? The International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories’ (I2SL’s) Circular Economy for Laboratories Community of Practice discussed the lab plastics dilemma in our supplier-user roundtable on Reusable Alternatives to Single-Use Plastics, on Thursday, August 8, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern. Speaker Patrick Penndorf of ReAdvance gave the European perspective on the challenges of lab waste diversion and measures to reduce single-use plastics. Jon Arroyo of Grenova presented on their pipette tip washing system while Edmond Noblejas provided the perspective of a user of their product from the research community.

In honor of World Water Day in March, this forum focused on water reduction and reuse in labs. Learn about ways to reduce water and reuse water in labs, through equipment replacement, researcher education, and sustainable design. A representative of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) WaterSense program shared tips from their best practices guide on water reduction in labs, and three I2SL Sustainable Laboratory Award winners shared their successes with autoclave education, waterless condensers, and stormwater reclamation. ​ Robbie Pickering, ERG, a contractor to EPA’s WaterSense program Star Scott, University of Georgia Kate Andrews, University of British Columbia Patrick Murphy, Vanderweil Engineers (for a Lehigh University water reclamation project)

The International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories (I2SL) Circular Economy for Labs Community of Practice first-ever forum focused on the reduction of expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam. Though it has benefits for shipping fragile or cold storage items, the abundant use of EPS foam containers and packaging in laboratories has had some negative environmental, social, and public health impacts in the greater scientific sector. During the forum, Kelly Weisinger of the Environmental Defense Fund provided an overview of the Technical Bulletin on the Use of EPS Foam in Laboratories. Anthony Michetti of Cell Signaling Technology and Dustin Andre from Millipore Sigma shared their successes and lessons learned in EPS alternatives and packaging waste reduction. If you missed it, you can view a recording of the forum here, and then head over to the Member Forum to pose your own questions about EPS or share your success stories!