SAFE Labs

CNIDevoLab_2025: We follow the guidelines of CNRS and Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls-sur-Mer for sustainability.

We favour, where possible, travel by train or other lower impact means. Lab waste is recycled according to instructions. We aim to minimize plastic consumables, for example by using smaller containers when possible.

GalupaLab_2025: This aspect should deserve more of our attention in a near future, as a lab/team. At the institute level, some measures for energy-saving have been implemented (e.g., reduced lights outside of working hours, freezers at -70°C instead of -80°C) and we have an active working group dedicated to green initiatives, called “CBI 1.5”, based on the initiative “Labos 1.5”. We should strive to minimise energy consumption and waste production; any ideas are welcome.

• When traveling for work, we prioritise more sustainable options (e.g. train over plane) when possible, especially when traveling time remains below 8 hours
• We recycle as much as possible, in the office and in the lab
• We place orders in bulk to reduce shipments
• We share equipment across teams and departments
• We turn off unused equipment when prolonged downtime is forecasted, if possible and not detrimental to the instruments

OttLab_2025: The lab strives to minimise energy consumption and waste production. We identified three main areas of impact: travel, recycling and economical use of equipment. Travel: We encourage sustainable transport options both for long-haul travel and for daily commute. For long-hauls trips, when funding allows, the lab covers the most sustainable travel option. PhD students enrolled at Humboldt University have local public transport included, and employee benefits include reduced public transport subscriptions. Recycling: To minimize the environmental impact of lab waste, we avoid mixing lab waste and regular waste. We recycle regular waste according to local regulations. Economical use of equipment: when possible and not detrimental our instruments, we turn off unused equipment and lighting.

ReinhardLab_2025: Research consumes a lot of energy and produces a lot of waste. While this cannot always be avoided for experimental or safety reasons, we have rules in place to minimize our footprint as much as possible:

Travels: Team members are required to travel by train or similar public transport means for trips <8h. Exceptions need to be discussed with the PI. SISSA employees can get a 10%discount on all Freccia travels, including private ones.

Correct waste management: Team members get instructed on correct disposal of hazardous waste and are requested to check safety information before discarding products they are not familiar with. Both in and outside the labs we have recycling bins for paper and plastic, and everyone is encouraged to use these for non-hazardous waste.

Bulk orders: Italian law requires public entities to use economical solutions, which includes combining orders to the same company from various labs. Furthermore, SISSA has the “Neurostore” which provides labs with many of the daily used consumables which hence can be ordered in large quantities to reduce shipping.

Shared facilities: We have quite a large number of shared facilities and equipment. These are managed by the technical staff and can be used by all SISSA labs.

RossiLab: The lab strives to minimise energy consumption and waste production. We identified three main areas of impact: travel, recycling and economical use of equipment.

Travel: I encourage sustainable transport options both for long-haul travel and for daily commute. For long-hauls trips, when funding allows, I will cover the most sustainable travel option (up to 150% the price of the cheapest alternative). IIT policies also encourages the use of public transport over private cars and taxis. Lab members are encouraged to combine their work trips with other activities to reduce future emissions, like visiting related labs or institutes in the local area, or simply taking a holiday: in compliance with IIT policies, onwards or returning travel on away days will be covered if similar or less expensive. I incentivize sustainable options for daily commute: undergrad, master and PhD students enrolled at University of Trento benefit from discounted public transportation across the Trentino region.

Recycling: We recycle waste whenever possible. In the office space, segregated recylcing bins are provided and disposed of by cleaners; in the labs, we actively arrange our own recycling bins, and empty them when full. To minimize the environmental impact of lab waste, we avoid mixing contaminated materials (which is expensive and environmentally harmful to safely dispose of) with clean recyclable waste. Finally, we order equipment from local companies when the difference in cost is minimal.

Economical use of equipment: when possible and not detrimental our instruments, we turn off unused equipment when prolonged downtime is forecasted.

MariottiLab: Travel: I actively promote the use of sustainable transport options, both for long-haul travel and daily commuting. For long-distance trips, I prioritize covering the most environmentally friendly travel options whenever funding permits.

Waste Management: All team members receive clear instructions on the proper disposal of hazardous waste and are encouraged to consult safety information before discarding unfamiliar materials. Recycling bins for paper and plastic are available throughout the labs and surrounding areas, and everyone is urged to use them for non-hazardous waste.

Procurement: When fundings policy allows, we prioritize sourcing equipment from local suppliers to reduce environmental impact and support the local economy whenever the cost difference is minimal.

DonaLab_2025: Research inevitably consumes energy and generates waste, but we can—and should—strive to minimize our environmental footprint. All lab members are expected to act responsibly and adopt sustainable practices whenever possible.

• Waste Management: Ensure proper disposal of hazardous materials. If you’re unsure about how to discard a substance, consult safety data sheets or ask for guidance. Always recycle when appropriate.
• Energy Use: Be mindful of electricity consumption. Turn off lights, equipment, and appliances when they are not in use.
• Sustainable Purchasing: Whenever feasible, choose products from companies that offer environmentally friendly options or use minimal packaging. Share surplus consumables with others to avoid unnecessary waste.

RadzisheuskayaLab_2025: We have a Silver Award from the LEAF lab sustainability initiative, and we follow a set of defined rules to maintain the Award. All the followed procedures can be found in the Sustainability section of our group’s Team channel.

Since everyone in the lab shares responsibility for ordering reagents, I expect you to regularly look for the most budget-friendly options and ask sales reps for discounts—especially when it comes to high-cost items. The same mindset applies to doing experiments: always be mindful of conserving resources. That means reducing waste, optimising how you use reagents, keeping reaction volumes low when possible, and avoiding unnecessary samples. Being smart about spending day to day helps us save up for bigger, more expensive—and very exciting—experiments down the line.

CoenLab_2025: The lab strives to minimise energy consumption and waste production. We identified three main areas of impact: travel, recycling and economical use of equipment.

Travel: I encourage sustainable transport options both for long-haul travel and for daily commute. For long-haul trips, when funding allows, I will cover the most sustainable travel option. I also recognise remote-working hours spent productively on sustainable means of transport during private (non-work-related) trips. Lab members are also encouraged to combine their work trips with other activities to reduce future emissions, like visiting related labs or institutes in the local area, or simply taking a holiday. I incentivize sustainable options for daily commute: PhD students benefit from reduced costs on public transportation across, and all staff can participate in UCL’s cycle scheme to purchase a bike through salary sacrifice (meaning that the effective cost is reduced and spread over time).

Recycling: To minimize the environmental impact of lab waste, we avoid mixing truly contaminated materials (which is expensive and environmentally harmful to safely dispose of) with clean recyclable waste. We recycle waste whenever possible, and order equipment from local companies when the difference in cost is minimal.

Economical use of equipment: when possible and not detrimental our instruments, we turn off unused equipment when prolonged downtime is forecasted.

AeryJonesLab_2026: -Transit: I encourage you to take public transportation or share taxis between airports and conference venues whenever possible. -Electricity: Turn off room lights when not in use and shut down computers between experiments. -Composting: Put coffee grounds, tea bags, and other compostable food scraps into the lab compost bin on the coffee cart.