Reduce Costs with Sustainable Solutions

The term sustainability as it relates to plastic consumables generally defaults to a discussion around recycling. Although important, recycling is not the only solution to sustainability. One question that typically gets lost in the discussion is how can we reduce the amount of plastic we use at the start?

1.Thio-Bags, your solution to efficient and sustainable water testing.

As a part of its overall waste management strategy, the US EPA has developed a Waste Management Hierarchy which shows source reduction as the most preferred tool, followed by reuse of materials and finally recycling. Simply put…..reduce, reuse, recycle. The order here is important, as the greatest impact we can have on sustainability is through the reduction in overall use.

Abstract A perfect example of an industry ripe for a change in sampling procedures is the water industry. Of the hundreds of millions of water samples taken globally each year, the majority are sampled in rigid, single-use plastic containers. On average, these rigid containers are produced using 5-10 times the plastic that would be needed to produce a comparable size Nasco Whirl-Pak® bag; a more sustainable solution is available but initiating change has been difficult.

Nasco Sampling embarked on an evaluation of the environmental impact of our Whirl-Pak® 120ml and 500ml sterile sampling bags compared to the standard rigid plastic containers typically used for water sampling. The evaluation utilized the Ecolmpact-Compass software which is widely used in the packaging industry for life cycle assessments. A life cycle assessment characterises the impact associated with sourcing, manufacturing, distributing, using, and disposing of a given product. Consider this a cradle to grave evaluation. It gives you an idea of which package may have a lower environmental footprint allowing you to make better sustainability decisions.

In all product comparisons, the Whirl-Pak® sterilized sampling bag was significantly more sustainable than the three common rigid containers used in water collection. Less fossil fuel use, lower greenhouse gas emissions, less water usage and an overall lower environmental impact was observed throughout the entire life cycle when utilising Whirl-Pak® bags. Even though a sustainable alternative is identified, cost considerations can weigh heavily on the decision to implement changes. Budgetary constraints can limit even the most highly motivated lab manager. In the case of flexible sampling solutions like Whirl-Pak® bags, not only can the container itself reduce overall costs but hidden savings associated with shipping, storage and waste disposal can also be realised. The savings are further magnified if your lab is supporting international initiatives where shipping long distances is required.

When it comes to embracing a sustainable approach in the laboratory setting, focus on small yet meaningful changes that can make a measurable impact. Replacing rigid plastic sample collection vessels with flexible solutions like Whirl-Pak® bags can be the beginning of your journey towards a more sustainable work environment.