1 The Next Frontier for Laboratories - Going Green Joseph Lopez Associate Professor and Head, Dept. of Biomedical Sciences, MAHSA University Kuala Lumpur 13 th APFCB Congress, Bali, 28 Oct 2013
Dec 17, 2015
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The Next Frontier for Laboratories - Going Green
Joseph Lopez
Associate Professor and
Head,
Dept. of Biomedical Sciences,
MAHSA University
Kuala Lumpur
13th APFCB Congress, Bali, 28 Oct 2013
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Objective of this talkTo create an awareness of the environmental impact of clinical laboratories
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Laboratory
Human activity
Greenhouse gases
Global warming and climate change
Labs have a societal responsibility to reduce the environmental consequences of their activities
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Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Sept 2012; 50(9):1559-64
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Content
• Causes of global warming• Evidence for global warming• Why labs are a source of global warming• Environmental policy for labs• Guidelines for good environmental
practices
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Causes of Global Warming
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Greenhouse Gases• Greenhouse gases cause global
warming • Notably:
– carbon dioxide – ~80% – methane – nitrous oxide– fluorinated gases
• Greenhouse gases trap the sun's rays within the Earth's atmosphere
• Sources of greenhouse gases:– energy production, – deforestation, – agriculture – waste disposal
http://www.whatsyourimpact.eu.org/main-greenhouse-gases.php
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Energy and Greenhouse Gases
http://www.globalchange.gov/publications/reports/scientific-assessments/us-impacts/climate-change-impacts-by-sector/energy-supply-and-use
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/gw-causes/
Production and use of energy is the primary cause of global warming
Energy production
CO2
Global warming
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Evidence that atmospheric CO2 has increased since the Industrial Revolution (Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA)
http://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/
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Is Global Warming Happening?
• Earth has been warming for 100 years
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2007, the reported that 11 of the 12 warmest years since 1850 occurred between 1995 and 2006
http://www.edf.org/climate/global-warming-facts
http://www.edf.org/climate/how-we-know-the-earth-is-warming
There is scientific consensus on the basic facts of global warming
The most respected scientific bodies have stated that:global warming is occurring people are causing it
There is scientific consensus on the basic facts of global warming
The most respected scientific bodies have stated that:1. global warming is occurring2. people are causing it
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Temperature records since 1850 show:1. warming of the Earth over the past century 2. particularly rapid heating over the past few decades
http://www.edf.org/climate/how-we-know-the-earth-is-warming
Global Temperature, 1850-2000
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Impacts from Rising Temperatures
• Floods and droughts more common
• Less fresh water available
• Rising sea levels
• Climate change
• Ocean acidification
• Changes in ecosystem
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Shrinking ice sheets
• Global warming has effect on the world’s ice masses such as: – mountain glaciers – ice sheets covering
West Antarctica and Greenland,
– Arctic sea ice
http://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/
Flowing meltwater from the Greenland ice sheet
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Shrinking ice sheets
• The Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets have decreased in mass.
– Greenland and Antarctica decreased at least 150 cubic kilometers a year since 2002 and 2006
http://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/
Flowing meltwater from the Greenland ice sheet
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Source: Economist, June 16-22, 2012
Summertime sea ice cover over the Arctic Ocean is also declining, and in some areas this ice cover is thinning rapidly.
Ice is melting worldwide, especially at the Earth’s poles.
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http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/files/2012/06/Figure3.png
The National Snow and Ice Data CenterAdvancing knowledge of Earth's frozen regions449 UCB University of Colorado Boulder, CO 80309-0449
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Arctic sea ice has plummeted to its lowest levels ever this year (2012) Photgraph: Steven J Kazlowski/Alamy; Source: Guardian 28 June 2012
Source:Guardian
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Source: Economist, June 16-22, 2012
Source: Economist, June 16-22 2012
Source: Daily Telegraph, 19 Nov 2009
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1912 1938 1958
Denver Glacier in Recession
http://nsidc.org/news/press/day_after/q2.html
Glacial retreatMost mountain glacier regions are in decline.
Glaciers are retreating in the Alps, Himalayas, Andes, Rockies, Alaska and Africa
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Rise of Sea Level, 1860-2008
• Global sea level rose about 17 cm (6.7 in.) in the last century.
• However, the rate in the last decade is nearly double that of the last century.
http://www.edf.org/climate/how-we-know-the-earth-is-warming
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Ocean acidification
• Increased human activity has increased CO2 emissions into the atmosphere which is absorbed into the oceans.
• Since start of the Industrial Revolution, the acidity of surface ocean waters has increased by about 30%.
http://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/
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Changes in Ecosystems
• Adélie penguins on Antarctica: – from 32,000 breeding pairs to 11,000 in
30 years.
• Some butterflies, foxes, and alpine plants – have moved farther north or to higher,
cooler areas.
• Polar bears: since the mid-1980s, – polar bears have gotten considerably
skinnier, with less ice on which to live and fish for food
– If sea ice disappears, the polar bears may as well.
• Some diseases will spread, such as malaria carried by mosquitoes
Source for climate information: IPCC, 2007
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Energy Consumption of Laboratories
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Global Medical Labs Market
• Global Medical Laboratories Market to Reach US$102 Billion by 2018 (Global Industry Analysts, Inc.)
• http://www.prweb.com/releases/medical_laboratories/clinical_laboratories/prweb9693406.htm (accessesd 3 Nov 2012)
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Energy Usage of Laboratories
• Labs are energy intensive
• Labs use 5 to 10 times more energy per square foot than an average office building
US EPA states that Labs can reduce energy use by 30 to 50%
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Guidelines to reduce environmental impact
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Survey of IFCC members on the mitigation of the environmental impact of laboratories December- January 2010
Question Yes No Don’t know
Besides proper waste disposal, are you aware of clinical laboratories in your country that have Action Plans to reduce their environmental impact by way of reduced power and water usage, reduced utilization of plastics, chemicals and paper, greater recycling of material, reduced use of fuels, encouraging staff to use less energy, etc.
11 16 4
Have clinical labs in your country addressed the issue of carbon footprints of laboratories?
3 21 6
Do you think that it would be helpful if the IFCC provided some basic guidelines to clinical laboratories on how they could reduce their carbon footprint
29 0 2
Are you aware of ISO14000 standards and what they relate to?
14 17 -
Do you know of any clinical laboratories in your country that have received ISO14000 certification?
2 20 9
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COMMITMENT
Environmental policy
AnnounceEnvironmental
POLICY
Support of senior
management
Initial costs offset by
long term savings
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Elements of an Environmental Policy
• Corporate Social Responsibility – to include responsibility on stewardship of the environment
• Minimise / eliminate activities which impact environmental
• Minimise consumption
• Reduce waste through the reduction, reuse or recycling of materials.
• Implement good waste management systems for pathology waste
• Review environmental practices at least annually.
• Commitment to heighten environmental awareness– Provide staff education – Advocacy: encourage customers, suppliers and other
stakeholders to mirror commitment to environmental responsibility.
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Preliminary environmental
review
Action Plan
Target setting
Create awareness
Trainng
Available legislation
Audits
Documentation
Trainng
Available legislation
Audits
Trainng
Available legislation
Documentation
Audits
Trainng
Available legislation
Preliminary environmental
review
Target setting
Create awareness
Trainng
Preliminary environmental
review
Target setting
Create awareness
Available legislation
Trainng
Preliminary environmental
review
Target setting
Create awareness
Audits
Available legislation
Trainng
Preliminary environmental
review
Target setting
Create awareness
Preliminary environmental
review
Create awareness
Target setting
Preliminary environmental
review
Create awareness
Available legislation
Trainng
Target setting
Preliminary environmental
review
Create awareness
Documentation
Audits
Available legislation
Trainng
Target setting
Preliminary environmental
review
Create awareness
Create awareness
Target setting
Preliminary environmental
review
Create awareness
Trainng
Target setting
Preliminary environmental
review
Create awareness
Available legislation
Trainng
Target setting
Preliminary environmental
review
Create awareness
Audits
Available legislation
Trainng
Target setting
Preliminary environmental
review
Create awareness
Documentation
Audits
Available legislation
Training
Target setting
Preliminary environmental
review
Create awareness
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Environmental Management System
Plan
Do
Check
ActContinuous
improvement
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EMSISO 14001
QMSISO 15189
Integration of EMS with QMS
• Principles, procedures for EMS and QMS are same
• EMS and QMS should be integrated
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Staff Training
Reward workable ideas
Ways of reducing environmental impact
Identify areas of waste reduction
Raise awareness
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Lab Environmental Manager
• Appoint a Lab Environmental Manager to be in-charge of the EMS
• Initially, an existing staff member • Should work closely with QMS manager
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3Rs – Reduce, Reuse, Recyclemain pillars of efforts for environmental improvement
Each activity to mitigate environmental impact will come under one or more of these headings.
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Reuse • Reuse as much as possible before replacing • Replace as far as is possible, with reusable items.
Recycle• ensure items/components are put to new purpose
as much as possible • recycling program should be financially sound
Reduce consumption of energy, natural resources and unsafe products.
3Rs – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
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Some Proposals for Mitigation of Environmental Impact
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Green purchasing policy
Purchase goods, services:• that minimize negative environmental impacts• From suppliers who share lab’s commitment to environment
Manufacturing
Disposal
Recyclable productsLocally produced (where possible)
Recycled products Packaging
Less toxic
Transportation
Ordering patterns
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Equipment selection
• Factor in the environmental impact of the equipment at evaluation
• Purchase energy-efficient equipment
• Priority to equipment with a lesser environmental footprint in regard to: – Water consumption. – air-conditioning or heating requirements
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Reagent selection
Where possible use• Alternatives to reagents
with harmful ingredients.
• Use smaller test kits - less packaging which require less refrigeration
• Locally produced reagents - smaller carbon footprint when transported
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Packaging wastes
• Persuade disposal contractors to provide reusable containers for the disposal of laboratory sharpes.
• May be achieved by the use of Stericycle® bio boxes (in USA)
• A pilot study at Harvard Medical School saved 2,026 lbs of plastic from reusable sharp bins.
Sharps Disposal Container for Stericycle
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Packaging wastes
Where possible negotiate with vendors to:
• Use less packaging • use biodegradable or
recyclable packaging • take back packaging for
reuse.
Labs • produce large amounts of solid wastes • should reduce solid waste volume
• Labs may reuse packaging boxes for sending out items
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Laboratory furniture
Where possible purchase:• used or reusable laboratory
furniture • environmentally-friendly
furniture.
Thermo Scientific Hamilton Distinction® II Adaptable Laboratory Furniture System. Constructed from environmentally friendly materials and manufacturing processes
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Reducing energy usage and wastage
• Laboratories consume more energy per square foot, often x5 as much compared with non-laboratory buildings such as offices.
• Clean-rooms: consumption can be is 10-100-times higher.
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Lighting in Labs
• Lighting in laboratories is up to x2 that of a typical office space.
• Lighting energy use typically accounts for 8% to 25% of total electricity use
• Use LED lighting
http://www.i2sl.org/documents/toolkit/bp_lighting_508.pdf, accessed 3 Nov 2012
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Source: http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~epsgreen/labs.html
Fume Hoods
• Use enormous amounts of energy
• Typical fume hood (USA) that runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year uses X3.5 more energy than the average house.
• New models allow significant energy reduction.
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Recycling of Solvents
• Recycling of solvents Xylene, alcohol, formalin by CBG Biotech Supreme Solvent Recycler
• 90-95% recovery
• Cost-savings
Xylene, alcohol benchtop recycler;10 L CBG model
*Courtesey, Badrick T, Sullivan Nicolaides, Australia
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Good Practices• Daily “end of day” lab and office walk-throughs - to
manually close lights equipment, instruments.
• Chiller/heat temperature and humidity controls - adjust according to the seasonal demands.
• Analytical equipment and processes: shut down when not in use
• Regular equipment maintenance
• Consolidate equipment and instruments of different units of the laboratory where feasible.
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Transportation
Vehicles select fuel-efficient fleet vehicles review routes and usage
Staff encourage and provide incentives to laboratory staff to use public transport or bicycles
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Reduction
• Reduction of test numbers – audits of tests requested and their
usefulness to identity unnecessary requests
• Reduction in the use of collection tubes
• Reuse of specimen collection bags • Paper management to reduce usage• Waste reduction • Water Usage
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Paper Usage
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle • Reduce:
– introduction of paperless systems; – Introduction of non-paper options
where possible
• Reuse: Print and photocopy double-sided
• Recycle
• Paper usage audits
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Clean Water
• Deionised water – Consider resin technologies instead of
Reverse Osmosis systems, since the latter are wasteful of water and energy.
• Perform an audit of water usage and look for ways to reduce water usage
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Environmentally-friendly buildings
• The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) - an internationally recognized green building certification system
• The LEED standard has been adopted in the USA as the industry standard of measurement for green buildings
• Such buildings: – use environmentally preferable materials – reuse building materials – Achieve energy reduction through
modifications and operational changes – have improved water-usage efficiency and
waste handling
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Advocacy - Influencing others
• Staff: – engage in carbon-offsetting
activities
• Vendors: – Contractual conditions on vendors to be more
environmentally friendly in dealings with the laboratory
– to supply instruments that consume less energy, water and produce less waste.
– powered reagents requiring reconstitution - leaves a smaller carbon footprint when transported
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What we need to do
• Make a commitment
• Reduce disposables: – Wash and reuse – use less plastics
• Reduce energy consumption
• Buy: – powdered reagents reconstituted at point of usage – chemicals in reusable/returnable containers– Take back packaging– Instruments that consume less energy, water
• Remember: Cost savings in good environmental practices
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Thank you