A new peer-reviewed publication in EMBO Reports highlights the scale of lab plastic waste and the challenges of creating a circular economy for laboratory research.

A Scientific Perspective on Lab Plastic Waste

In scientific research, plastic is both indispensable and problematic. Laboratories rely on single-use plastic consumables to ensure sterility and reproducibility, but this dependence has led to an enormous environmental burden. While efforts to reduce plastic use have gained momentum, a newly published peer-reviewed study in EMBO Reports titled - "What’s in Our Bin?: Labs Kick Off and Demand the Transition Towards a Circular Economy for Lab Plastics" - takes a broader approach. Instead of focusing solely on waste reduction, it explores the structural and logistical challenges that prevent labs from adopting more sustainable practices.

Led by Green Labs Austria, the study compiles waste data from multiple research institutions, including Imptox partners Medical University of Vienna (MUW) and the University of Vienna (UNIVIE). Their contributions have helped build a more comprehensive picture of laboratory plastic use, reinforcing that sustainability in research cannot be achieved through individual efforts alone. With the study now published, these findings serve as a scientifically validated reference point for advocating systemic changes at the institutional and industry levels.

From Initial Commitment to Published Research

This is not the first time UNIVIE and MUW have addressed the issue of lab plastic waste. In 2021, we reported on their decision to join Green Labs Austria, marking a commitment to more sustainable research practices. Subsequently, both institutions conducted detailed waste audits, revealing the extent of plastic consumption in their labs (read here for the full story). Their participation in this larger initiative provided valuable data, which has now been peer-reviewed and published, making it a reliable foundation for future sustainability efforts.

Specifically, the Experimental Allergy Laboratory at MUW, led by Prof. Michelle Epstein, and the Nanomedicine and Pharmaceutical Biophysics Group at UNIVIE led by Prof. Lea Ann Dailey, contributed their lab waste data to the study. Their participation in this study highlights a critical connection: while Imptox researchers work to understand the impact of plastic pollution on human health, they must also address the environmental footprint of their own lab practices.

The study confirms that a single researcher generates, on average, 116 kilograms of plastic waste per year, with the highest amounts coming from tissue and cell culture labs. A small number of items, such as pipette tips, Falcon tubes, and multi-well plates, account for the bulk of this waste. However, beyond simply quantifying the problem, the publication highlights the difficulties in creating a circular economy for laboratory research. Many lab plastics, particularly those from biosafety level 1 labs, are technically recyclable, yet very little of this material actually enters recycling streams. The lack of standardized sorting procedures, strict waste disposal regulations, and limited industry-led recycling initiatives prevent meaningful progress in this area.

The Challenges of Sustainable Laboratory Practices

Most laboratory consumables are still designed for single use, with no consideration for reuse or recyclability, reinforcing the dominance of a linear economy where plastics are used and then immediately discarded, often through incineration. This means that, while many researchers and institutions recognize the issue, the infrastructure to make large-scale change is still missing. The study identifies key barriers, including the need for improved sorting methods, the absence of take-back programs from manufacturers, and inconsistencies in regulations that prevent the safe and efficient recycling of lab plastics.

The publication argues that sustainability in lab research requires institutional and industry-wide action. While researchers can make efforts to reduce waste within their own labs, larger policy changes are necessary to create lasting impact. The authors call on universities to integrate sustainability policies into their operations, funding agencies to consider environmental impact in research grants, and manufacturers to develop laboratory consumables that can be reused or more effectively recycled.

From Research to Action

For MUW and UNIVIE, contributing to this study was not just about tracking waste - it was about ensuring that the issue is addressed on a broader scale. The publication of this research in EMBO Reports adds credibility and urgency to the discussion, making it clear that individual awareness alone is not enough. The scientific community now has the data to back up calls for a transition toward circular labs, and the challenge ahead is to turn that research into action.

Reference: 

P.M. Weber, C. Michelsen, M. Kerou, “What’s in our bin?: Labs kick off and demand the transition towards a circular economy for lab plastics”, Embo Reports, Jan. 2025, https://doi.org/10.1038/s44319-024-00360-x