From Lab Bench to Landfill:
Rethinking Plastic Waste in Life Sciences

In the early 1980s, a significant shift occurred in laboratory work. We eagerly swapped glass pipettes and reusable Petri dishes for single-use plastics, viewing it as undeniable progress. This change promised sterility, safety, and scalability, allowing scientific innovation to accelerate.

However, while our focus was on the breakthroughs happening inside the lab, we overlooked the growing problem outside: the fate of the plastic we discarded. This blind spot has since evolved into a full-blown environmental crisis. During my time at Roche, we began receiving feedback from customers. Initially, their concerns were practical, focusing on oversized packaging, limited storage space, and high disposal costs. The environmental impact only became a central part of the discussion later. In hindsight, it should have been a primary concern from the start. The general awareness in laboratories regarding the destination of biohazardous waste was limited; the line of sight ended when it was placed in a red or yellow bag: out of sight, out of mind.

Why Traditional Waste Treatment Is No Longer Fit for Purpose

The life sciences sector still relies heavily on disposable plastics. While awareness of the environmental cost is growing, recycling rates remain alarmingly low. The core of the problem lies with traditional systems for waste treatment, which were never designed for circularity or transparency and are now falling behind modern demands.

Most plastics from laboratories are unsuitable for conventional recycling due to contamination and the use of complex polymer mixtures. Consequently, they are typically sent to incinerators or landfills, contributing to pollution and wasting valuable resources. A new approach is urgently needed to handle the unique challenges of biomedical waste.

A New Era of Accountability: How Regulations Are Driving Change

The good news is that significant change is on the horizon, driven by stringent new regulations. Companies that produce and use lab plastics are now required to do more than simply manage their waste; they must track it, account for it, and take full responsibility for its entire lifecycle.

• In the US, California’s Scope 3 rules are redefining corporate accountability for supply chain emissions.
• In Europe, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) demands auditable ESG disclosures.
• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), once limited to packaging and electronics, is expanding into the life sciences sector, placing end-of-life responsibility squarely on the producers.

These regulations are transforming the landscape, making effective clinical waste collection and processing a matter of compliance, not just conscience.

Practical Steps Towards a Circular Economy in Life Sciences

So, what does this shift look like in practice? To move forward, life science companies must adopt a proactive and strategic approach to their plastic footprint.

Audit, Quantify, and Understand Your Impact

The first step is measurement. Life science companies need to thoroughly audit and quantify their plastic footprint across the entire supply chain. You cannot fix what you cannot see. A detailed understanding is the foundation for meaningful change.

Forge Partnerships with Modern Waste Experts

It’s time to look beyond traditional waste vendors. Companies should develop relationships with partners who offer integrated technology and transparent data. Collaborating with specialised regulated waste treatment companies ensures access to innovative solutions, traceable emissions data, and compliance-focused services that support biohazardous waste recycling.

Adapt to a Tighter Regulatory Environment

Procurement and compliance expectations are tightening at a rapid pace. Legacy waste management systems, which were built for high volume rather than high visibility, no longer meet the requirements of this new era. Adapting to regulation is not optional.

Foster a Culture of End-to-End Responsibility

For too long, many suppliers have treated waste as the customer’s problem to solve. That mindset is now obsolete. The next generation of scientists, leaders, and stakeholders expects more, and they are right to do so. A culture of shared responsibility is essential for progress.