Laboratory work is resource-intensive. For instance, large equipment, such as -80°C freezers, consume on average as much energy as a typical single-family home. Many labs require plastic consumables, which generate a significant amount of waste.  This leads to the question: what can we do to make lab work more sustainable? After all, samples have to be stored safely, experiments cannot be changed easily and some desirable actions are simply not possible due to safety reasons.

This is where the Ecomapping™ method comes in, helping laboratories to develop their individual action plan. This method focuses on the environmental impact of laboratory work as well as safety concerns. This includes e.g. waste management, energy consumption, storage or chemicals and consumables management. In an on-site assessment, all these aspects are addressed and opportunities for improvement are identified. This presentation will outline the main principles of this approach and show how practical examples can lead to a more sustainable laboratory.