From waste to wisdom: rethinking plastic waste management in the lab
ModulesFrom waste to wisdom: rethinking plastic waste management in the lab
Laboratories play a pivotal role in advancing science. However, they’re also significant sources of plastic waste, thereby contributing heavily to global plastic pollution. In 2015, a study estimated the amount of plastic waste produced in bioscience labs worldwide at 5.5 million tons. Given the essential role of plastic products in wet-lab research, avoiding their use altogether may not be a practical option. Alternatively, plastic used in the lab can be recycled. This micromodule explores practical actions for reducing, managing, and recycling plastic waste in research environments. Whether you are a student, researcher or lab technician, you will gain actionable insights to make your workspace cleaner, greener, and more sustainable.
The primary learning objective of this micromodule is to:
- Enhance understanding of the role and importance of plastic waste recycling for a green and sustainable lab.
Secondary learning objectives include:
- Familiarize students, researchers, and lab managers with the different types of plastic materials in a lab.
- Explore actionable steps for managing and recycling plastics in a lab.
- Reflect on the challenges of developing a recycling pipeline for plastic waste in a lab.
