Minimizing hazardous materials and hazardous waste in the lab is a win for both safety and the environment. Fewer hazards can lower exposure risk for lab personnel and reduce costs for hazardous waste disposal.

Criteria for less hazardous products

We have rigorously evaluated products to ensure they meet at least one of the following standards.

  • Is inherently less hazardous
  • Reduces the need to use other hazardous materials
  • Generates less hazardous waste
  • Is reformulated so it doesn’t require Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) classification
  • Is free of ozone-depleting substances

With this in mind, we've put together a list of less hazardous green solutions and "greenlight" our key products, along with how to make greener choices, below.

 

The ACT Label

 

 

Making greener choices often involves a process of comparing different products to select the one that provides the greatest environmental benefit. The nonprofit organization My Green Lab has created a tool to make it easier to do just that—they have developed the ACT Label.

 

Greenlighting more products that are Less Hazardous

 

 

Invitrogen SYBR Safe DNA Gel Stain

Invitrogen SYBR Safe DNA Gel Stain

SYBR Safe stain was developed specifically to be a safer alternative for staining DNA in agarose and acrylamide gels compared to conventional nucleic acid stains such as ethidium bromide. It was evaluated by four independent testing services, who determined it to be nontoxic and noncarcinogenic. Since it’s classified as nonhazardous waste, SYBR Safe DNA Gel Stain:

  • Helps to reduce lab personnel’s exposure to hazardous chemicals in the lab
  • Avoids generation of hazardous waste and the associated management and disposal costs

We partnered with My Green Lab to evaluate SYBR Safe DNA Gel Stain, resulting in an ACT sustainability label being applied to the product.

Learn more about this product ›
Download the Green Fact Sheet ›

Invitrogen Mini Blot Module

Invitrogen Mini Blot Module

Wet transfer of proteins from mini gels to membranes requires use of a methanol-based transfer buffer. Methanol is a highly flammable solvent that is toxic. The Mini Blot Module wet transfer device enables efficient, reliable transfer of proteins from mini gels to membranes and requires less methanol-based transfer buffer.

  • The half-inch buffer chamber within its core has been designed to reduce the volume of methanol required and thereby decrease the hazardous waste generated
  • A typical transfer for each Mini Blot Module uses 250 mL of 1X methanol-based transfer buffer compared to the Mini Trans-Blot Cell requiring 950 mL of buffer—reducing the hazardous waste from this buffer by 74%
  • The Mini Blot Module runs at ambient temperature, with room-temperature buffers, enabling more efficient use of cold storage resources in the laboratory

Learn more about this product ›
Download the Green Fact Sheet ›

 

 

Navigate The Green Issue

 

Discover how we, along with our customers, are trying to make every day Earth Day. Learn about our pillars of sustainability, which includes: less waste, less hazardous, energy efficient and sustainable packaging.

One shared pursuit

Hear from Cristina Amorim, VP of EHS & Sustainability as she shares ways in which we're taking steps towards serving our customers in sustainable ways, including: 14 zero waste-certified facilities and a recent commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030.

Learn more ›

 

Energy efficient

Did you know freezers and fridges make up for most of a lab’s energy use? Learn what we mean by “energy efficient” and things you can do now to save energy.

Learn more ›

 

Sustainable packaging

Packaging design must consider how to protect the product and minimize impact on the environment. We’re started using 100% recyclable paper coolers for cold shipping and that’s only the beginning.

Learn more ›

 

Less waste

We have criteria for what “less waste” means, and it’s more than reducing what gets sent to landfills. Find out how we evaluate minimizing waste in the lab.

Learn more ›

 

Scientainment

Are you “thinking green” already? Share your story while learning about other environmentally conscious researchers. Let's celebrate every step along our green journey together.

Learn more ›

 

Style Sheet for Global Design System
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For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.