Responsible Procurement Considerations For Scientific Equipment

Interventions to reduce water, save electricity, or reduce single use plastic are possible on current equipment. These are discussed through networksLink opens in a new window and community groups. For more support on implementing the circular economy in your laboratory space please consider the frameworks.

However larger, longer impacts are made when procuring new equipment or making day-to-day purchases.

These examples aim to support Laboratory Users with what to consider when Responsibly Procuring.

Consumables & Chemicals

Reduce deliveries. Order in bulk. Group orders. Plan ahead.
Order reusable alternatives to single use consumables. This can save money over time, and reduce the waste generated.
Reassess your disposal options with suppliers, some know have take back schemes, or more end-of-life friendly alternatives.
Check your waste streams. A 'greener' alternative is only more environmentally friendly if the route of disposal is plausible within the University operations.
Plan to minimise waste - disposal costs are overlooked but not insignificant. Work with the Technical teams to minimise wastage, and reduce the hazards for cost efficient disposal.

Plan Ahead, Buy Better

Frequent reordering suggests that a larger size may be appropriate and would save on packaging and deliveries
For small quantities check with colleagues
Use LabCup to check across the department and share resource.

Fume Cupboards & Ventilated Cabinets

Fume cupboards are among the most energy-hungry types of equipment – an average unit consumes as much as 3.5 average UK households.
Ensure Fume Hoods have variable air volume (VAV); this reduces the air replacement rate when the sash is down.
Discuss with Estates or Operational Managers if it is possible to isolating individual cupboards to reduce overnight electrical load
Don’t use fume cupboards for storage – use ventilated cabinets instead, which only use ~1% of the energy of a fume cupboard.

Increase the Efficiency of the Workspace

Shutting a fume cupboard sash reduces its air flow, energy consumption and carbon emissions by up to 40%.
- Always close your fume cupboard sash when you leave the room.
Keep items in the fume hood at least 10cm apart and remove unnecessary items – it’s not safe otherwise!

Fridges and Freezers

A typical new ultra-low temperature (ULT) freezer consumes as much energy in a year as the average UK household.
Running older ULT models consumes up to four times the average UK household.
Sharing space, and having an emergency plan is more efficient than running older back-up freezers, especially partially full.
To improve the lifespan of a -20°C freezer, ensuring samples are required, and the freezer is not overly full, and regularly fully defrosted improves the efficiency by 10%.

Build in Emergency Planning

Selecting models with a LCD screen, and / or audio alarm will minimise sample and chemical loss in case of failure.
Selecting models with temperature retention in mind will increase efficiency - Drawers over shelves, and shelves over racks.