Towards greener and more sustainable pre-clinical oncology research
Abstract Single-use plastics (SUPs) are used widely in cancer research laboratories. They are cheap, durable, and lightweight, and until now have been considered disposable items. This, however, contributes significantly to unsustainable waste production. SUP waste is typically diverted to landfill...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | BJC Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44276-024-00115-0 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832586013026811904 |
|---|---|
| author | Cian Campion Linda Robertson Ian Stansfield Valerie Speirs |
| author_facet | Cian Campion Linda Robertson Ian Stansfield Valerie Speirs |
| author_sort | Cian Campion |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Single-use plastics (SUPs) are used widely in cancer research laboratories. They are cheap, durable, and lightweight, and until now have been considered disposable items. This, however, contributes significantly to unsustainable waste production. SUP waste is typically diverted to landfill or incineration, which contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, taking many years to degrade. Lack of robust SUP waste disposal streams, particularly in cancer research labs has long term effects on the environment. Having identified that a single laboratory researcher in our group generates at least 15 kg SUP tissue culture waste alone each year, we explore some of the issues associated with SUPs in pre-clinical oncology research, discussing potential reuse routes, alternative materials for labware and developing circular approaches to plastic consumption to address the green agenda. We also propose recommendations for improving sustainability in cancer research labs. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b960654b903147348798b92778a94389 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2731-9377 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BJC Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-b960654b903147348798b92778a943892025-01-26T12:18:20ZengNature PortfolioBJC Reports2731-93772025-01-01311510.1038/s44276-024-00115-0Towards greener and more sustainable pre-clinical oncology researchCian Campion0Linda Robertson1Ian Stansfield2Valerie Speirs3School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of AberdeenSchool of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of AberdeenSchool of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of AberdeenSchool of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of AberdeenAbstract Single-use plastics (SUPs) are used widely in cancer research laboratories. They are cheap, durable, and lightweight, and until now have been considered disposable items. This, however, contributes significantly to unsustainable waste production. SUP waste is typically diverted to landfill or incineration, which contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, taking many years to degrade. Lack of robust SUP waste disposal streams, particularly in cancer research labs has long term effects on the environment. Having identified that a single laboratory researcher in our group generates at least 15 kg SUP tissue culture waste alone each year, we explore some of the issues associated with SUPs in pre-clinical oncology research, discussing potential reuse routes, alternative materials for labware and developing circular approaches to plastic consumption to address the green agenda. We also propose recommendations for improving sustainability in cancer research labs.https://doi.org/10.1038/s44276-024-00115-0 |
| spellingShingle | Cian Campion Linda Robertson Ian Stansfield Valerie Speirs Towards greener and more sustainable pre-clinical oncology research BJC Reports |
| title | Towards greener and more sustainable pre-clinical oncology research |
| title_full | Towards greener and more sustainable pre-clinical oncology research |
| title_fullStr | Towards greener and more sustainable pre-clinical oncology research |
| title_full_unstemmed | Towards greener and more sustainable pre-clinical oncology research |
| title_short | Towards greener and more sustainable pre-clinical oncology research |
| title_sort | towards greener and more sustainable pre clinical oncology research |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44276-024-00115-0 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ciancampion towardsgreenerandmoresustainablepreclinicaloncologyresearch AT lindarobertson towardsgreenerandmoresustainablepreclinicaloncologyresearch AT ianstansfield towardsgreenerandmoresustainablepreclinicaloncologyresearch AT valeriespeirs towardsgreenerandmoresustainablepreclinicaloncologyresearch |