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A sustainability blog for biologists whose goal is to reduce laboratory waste, use green chemistry, and improve efficiency. Green labs thrive!

Figure 1: A mobile device displays the Elemental Machines platform equipment utilization overview page. Equipment utilization is determined through open door events. The platform also tracks open door duration and also provides some open door statis… — Figure 1: A mobile device displays the Elemental Machines platform equipment utilization overview page. Equipment utilization is determined through open door events. The platform also tracks open door duration and also provides some open door statistics.

Go Green and Maximize Laboratory Productivity with AI lab equipment monitoring

Sridhar Iyengar, Ph.D. September 23, 2019

There’s a common misconception that going green is expensive and a distracting obligation for large organizations. Few realize that it’s possible to create a greener lab space while actually reducing costs! Artificial intelligence tools can offer significant insight to any organization. Laboratories can reduce energy consumption and thus save money while simultaneously increasing lab productivity and protecting precious lab samples. Let's examine this technology in further detail.

Tackling Waste: 5 Steps to Less Plastic Waste in the Lab

Dr. Kerstin Hermuth-Kleinschmidt September 9, 2019

Life sciences laboratories are another area in which plastic waste can be reduced. Approximately 5.5 million tons of plastic waste are produced every year in life sciences laboratories alone, including items like pipette tips, nitrile gloves and cell culture flasks. In the age of global waste pollution and the ubiquity of plastic in the world around us, this is definitely too much. It can’t all be changed, but improvements are possible in some areas.

Rheaply's pitch video for Verge 19's Accelerate competition.

Rheaply’s Virtual Lab Surplus Platform is a semi-finalist for VERGE19 Accelerate

Garry Cooper, PhD August 25, 2019

To get to the stage at VERGE, Rheaply is depending on scientific community members (like YOU) to vote by August 30th. This would not only be an opportunity for Rheaply’s platform to be seen by many. It’s a big opportunity to promote awareness of the millions of tons of surplus and equipment that could be shared by scientists across the country.

Environmental stewardship winner Samantha Romanick with New England Biolabs CEO James Ellard, Executive Director Peter Nathan, PhD and Sir Richard Roberts, PhD Chief Scientific Officer and Noble Prize winner.

Refill not landfill: The Campus Refill Initiative

Nicole Kelesoglu July 8, 2019

Molecular biology grad student Samantha Romanick brings environmental stewardship to campuses by advancing re-fill and re-use options for all. Read her interview and watch her talk to learn more!

MassBio talks showcase that Massachusetts needs cooperation from biology labs to achieve sustainability

Nicole Kelesoglu May 21, 2019

Scientists who incorporate lab sustainability into the culture of life science are doing the right thing for their communities. The Boston area is the proud home to an extraordinarily high number of biologists, pushing the frontiers of science. In a sense it’s quite the contrast, The city is now nearly 400 years old! But, let’s just say that historical construction planners for greater Boston did not foresee supporting so many labs.

Laboratory Sustainability award Instagram.png

Using Rheaply to beat the odds against sharing lab supplies and scientific equipment

Nicole Kelesoglu March 25, 2019

Northwestern University has an ace in the hole when it comes to making good use of lab surplus. Labs at the world-renowned Fineberg Shool of Medicine are now connected via a cloud-based resource-sharing technology, called Rheaply. Rheaply combines the ease of use of social media ease with the marketplace functionality of an ebay. No barcode labels necessary!

A lively and open discussion on sustainable laboratories with scientists

Nicole Kelesoglu March 1, 2019

First off, people were fired up during the panel discussion. It was terrific. The audience and panelists critically examined typical lab practices and the effectiveness of ways to reduce waste. This is a great podcast to listen to over lunch. You can also read the full transcript of the green symposium podcast on the New England Biolabs web site, which includes helpful links to the resources mentioned.

Over 50 Cambridge area life scientists attended the Go Green in 2019! event at the thriving biotech hub, LabCentral. Practical information was presented by My Green Lab, Grenova, Triumvirate Environmental, Harvard University’s Office of Sustainabili… — Over 50 Cambridge area life scientists attended the Go Green in 2019! event at the thriving biotech hub, LabCentral. Practical information was presented by My Green Lab, Grenova, Triumvirate Environmental, Harvard University’s Office of Sustainability and UMass Medical School’s Growing Green program.

The expert strategies for laboratory waste shared at the Go Green Symposium

Nicole Kelesoglu February 13, 2019

Labs worldwide are faced with new challenges for recycling and waste reduction! View these expert talks, and read about their solutions for reducing laboratory waste. Over 50 Boston area life scientists attended the Go Green Symposium to get the latest information on laboratory sustainability.

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Labconscious is an open resource for biologists to support sustainability and green laboratory work to reduce the environmental footprint of bench science.

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