Differentiate – e.g., you can reuse tips for controls but not for samples.
Step-by-Step – implement one change at a time.
Mindset – stay positive and focused, not stressed or uncertain.
Experience – get familiar with your protocol or its technical background first.
Controls – document, measure, and take pictures.
Anxiety and concern are just hints from your subconscious that there’s something you haven’t yet considered. They are not signs of insurmountable danger.
I know of companies that decontaminate waste, those that bring a freezer to your lab so you can defrost yours, and scientists who comb agarose gels on both sides to run them back and forth.
Even in the high-performance segment you find significant differences in sustainability - read more here.
However, stay vigilant. There is no unified approach to pin down exact numbers, so take every gCO₂e or percentage saving with a grain of salt.
Always Take Action.
It will keep you going, keep your mind engaged, and help you find new opportunities. In the long run, it will make you a better scientist as you learn to optimize protocols.
Just put it in your calendar.
The more upstream you go, the better. Reduce, Reuse, and source Products more sustainably are key.
Take photos and quantify your progress. This will not only help you convince others more easily but also serve as a powerful reminder and motivator for yourself. Eventually, you’ll be able to publish this work.
Still, don’t try to plan too far ahead, as uncertainty and unexpected circumstances can’t be controlled.
Everything can be optimized. Even experimental design and thereby your statistics can benefit from sustainable practices.
Most people will be surprisingly enthusiastic if you take action.
It’s worth going up the chain (PI, dean, institute leadership), as they’re often interested in driving change but lack the knowledge to do so.
A great way to find local supporters is to simply send an email to your internal contact list at your institution.
For everyone who is skeptical of sustainability, try to identify their motivation: reduced environmental impact also means saving money and time, and increasing safety for scientists.
You remain the expert in your science and are free to find an approach that fits you.
While some practices are easy to implement in one place, another lab with nearly identical conditions may require a completely different strategy. Just find your way; there’s no absolute right or wrong.
If something can’t be done, move on. Regret for the past is a waste of energy, and we cannot change others.
Here is a list of nearly all the sustainable practices I know.
Find The Fire
Driving change is fun when done with the right partners. The community is large, and there’s a good fit for everyone.
To stay in touch with the community and stay up to date on tools and new green products once a week, join our Sustainability Snack.
Applying The Knowledge
Too often, we believe change is hard and rare - but in the end, it just takes you. Change your habits once, you will be able to do it again.
Don’t ask yourself if you can take action - ask how.
Doubt and anxiety will appear, but that is normal. All it takes is your decisiveness.
Upcoming Lesson:
The Future of Plastics in the Lab
How We Feel Today
References
Penndorf, P., et al., 2023. A new approach to making scientific research more efficient – rethinking sustainability. FEBS Lett., 597(19), 2371–2374. doi:10.1002/1873-3468.14736.
Penndorf, P., 2024. Reducing plastic waste in scientific protocols by 65% – practical steps for sustainable research. FEBS Lett., 598(11), 1331–1334. doi:10.1002/1873-3468.14909.
Alves, J., et al., 2020. A case report: insights into reducing plastic waste in a microbiology laboratory. Access Microbiol., 3(3), 000173. doi:10.1099/acmi.0.000173.
Kilcoyne, J., et al., 2022. Reducing environmental impacts of marine biotoxin monitoring: a laboratory report. PLOS Sustain. Transform., 1(3), e0000001. doi:10.1371/journal.pstr.0000001.
Mazzali, et al.,2025. Sustainable and surfactant-free synthesis of negatively charged acrylamide nanogels for biomedical applications. Macromolecules, 58(3), 1206–1213. doi:10.1021/acs.macromol.4c02128.
If you have a wish or a question, feel free to reply to this Email. Otherwise, wish you a beautiful week! See you again on the 30th : )
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A Personal Note For You Hi Reader, you can now watch the recordings! Below, you will find the link and some extra materials. > As a thank you for your interest, I am preparing 1 more message and one email with all resources set up for you. PS: I write a weekly educational newsletter that helps you learn about greener labs by investing just 5 minutes a week. “Your short lessons are packed with clarity and insight,” Niranjan. “I really appreciate your amazing work” said Prisca. So you don’t...
Personal Note From Patrick, The Editor Hi Reader, how about I sketch out what a sustainability journey can look like? I believe this is valuable because it helps you prepare and know what to expect at each step. That’s also why, on the 15th and 16th of October, you’ll learn everything you need for a fun and smooth journey. Of course, every journey is unique. But since many of us begin out of sheer curiosity, it’s easy to end up reinventing the wheel. So, here’s what your journey might look...
Personal Note From Patrick, The Editor Hi Reader, as you’ve registered for the event on Wednesday, I thought I’d provide you with a little bonus. I’ll send you the link to join the Zoom webinar tomorrow and again on Wednesday, so you won’t have to search for it before the event. In the meantime, you’ll find some tips and materials below on sustainability in the lab. Thos include highlights of the other talks we have lined up, which are free for you to join if you’d like. Today's Topic: A...
