Pioneering sustainable lab consumables with recyclates

The life sciences sector, where precision and purity are critical, is increasingly prioritising environmental sustainability. As laboratories worldwide recognise the environmental toll of their activities, the demand for eco-friendly solutions has never been greater. The widespread use of plastic consumables in labs is under scrutiny, with a growing consensus that future laboratory products must be manufactured from renewable or recycled materials to mitigate environmental impact.

Eppendorf, a company long committed to sustainability, has taken significant strides in this area. In 2022, the company began transitioning its laboratory consumables to biobased raw materials. Now, Eppendorf is also exploring the potential of recycled materials, or recyclates, particularly for product components that do not come into direct contact with samples. Recyclates are re-used plastics, typically made from polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), or polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which have been discarded by households or businesses and repurposed for new products.

"The 'Post Consumer Recyclate (PCR)' used in our disposable racks for pipette tips is of industrial origin, sourced exclusively from surplus materials from the contact lens manufacturing process," explained Brigitte Klose, Global Marketing Manager for Consumables at Eppendorf SE. "This 'single source' collection of polypropylene from medical product production ensures that the recyclate maintains the purity and integrity required for manufacturing laboratory consumables. We require thorough documentation from our suppliers regarding the traceability of the recyclate and adherence to EN 15343:2007 standards."

Since May 2024, Eppendorf has begun incorporating recyclates into the containers that house its consumables. The first products to undergo this transition are the racks for single-use pipette tips, essential for laboratories conducting sterile work. These racks, which provide stability and protection to pipette tips until the last tip is used, were previously made from highly pure fossil-based polypropylene. The shift to recyclate-based materials is expected to significantly reduce the reliance on finite fossil fuels, with Eppendorf estimating a reduction of over 166 tons of CO₂ emissions annually.

Importantly, this change in the polypropylene used for manufacturing the racks does not affect the purity, sterility, or stability of the epT.I.P.S.® pipette tips they hold. Customers can make the switch to the new racks  with no compromise on quality, as confirmed by lot-specific quality certificates.

Eppendorf’s initiative exemplifies how the integration of recyclates into laboratory consumables can play a crucial role in reducing environmental impact while maintaining the high standards required in life sciences research.

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