Does laboratory reusable glassware have a lower environmental impact than single-use plasticware? An analysis using the Ecolabware tool

Abstract

Over the decades, reusable laboratory glassware has been replaced by its single-use equivalent in plastic. Recently, initiatives aimed at reducing plastic use emerged, but a disincentive to this transition lies in scientists’ uncertainty about whether reusable glass solutions are truly beneficial, due to the amount of energy and materials required for decontamination, washing and sterilization of glassware. To address this question, we developed EcoLabWare, an online
calculator that compares the carbon and water scarcity footprints of several reusable or singleuse lab items, in different conditions of washing and sterilization. It shows that reuse is highly favorable in most of cases.