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Can science cure its addiction to plastic?

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2024-09-25 18:00:07

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Biology labs generate large amounts of single-use plastic waste, such as pipette tips and trays. Credit: Eplisterra/Getty Images

Single-use plastic has always been a concern of Caitlin Broadbent, a sustainability technician at King’s College London. Each month, researchers in the institute’s Drosophila fly facilities discard more than 20,000 polystyrene vials, contributing to an alarming increase in plastic waste as the laboratories continue to expand.

The disposal of these vials, along with flies and food, involves incineration at high temperatures, which generates substantial carbon emissions. With the environmental impact growing, addressing this issue is an urgent priority for the team.

But times are changing, says Broadbent. Through a project funded by King’s College, her team, along with an undergraduate student working on the project, is developing a business case for switching to glass containers. “While using glass vials was common in the past, implementing this change now requires careful consideration of costs, labour, safety and materials,” Broadbent says.