More sustainability in the lab: Green Lab news & trends
analytica makes the laboratory world greener. Learn how to increase sustainability in the lab and reduce your environmental footprint with energy-efficient equipment and eco-friendly chemicals at the world's leading trade show in Munich, Germany, from March 24-27, 2026.
Lab goes green: how sustainability works in the lab
High water consumption, energy-guzzling equipment, hazardous waste: when it comes to sustainability in the laboratory, there is still a lot of catching up to do. analytica shows you how the laboratory world is achieving its own green transformation. In Munich, learn about energy-saving equipment and laboratory technology, consumables made from bio-based or recycled plastics, and environmentally friendly alternatives to toxic chemicals. At analytica, exhibitors from all over the world will be presenting state-of-the-art and sustainable analytical, biological and laboratory technology. Let us inspire you to turn your lab into a Green Lab.
Sustainable laboratory - the top topics at analytica
At analytica, laboratories will find a wealth of ideas for the sustainable laboratory. Look forward to exploring these top topics:
- Energy-efficient and bio-based: Green Labs protect the environment
- Smaller is better: less waste in the sustainable lab
- Sustainable alternatives to toxic chemicals and scarce helium
Plus, you will experience the whole spectrum of instrument developments and analytical methods for the sustainable laboratory at analytica. Market leaders and innovative newcomers from all over the world will be coming to Munich to showcase their solutions for green laboratories. Discover more about these topics at analytica:
- Sustainability in the lab - Green Lab - paper-free lab - energy efficiency
- durable laboratory equipment - maintenance and repair services - resource-efficient laboratory analytics
- green chemicals - environmentally friendly reagents and solvents - alternatives to helium
- bio-based plastics - waste prevention - resource reuse
- circular economy - bioeconomy - raw material transformation - energy transition
- miniaturization - automation - digitization
Energy-efficient and bio-based: Green Labs protect the environment
Laboratories have significantly higher energy consumption than office and residential buildings. For example, a freezer that cools samples to minus 80 degrees consumes as much energy over the course of a year as a detached house. When purchasing new equipment, the focus should therefore be on energy consumption. analytica offers you the ideal platform to talk to manufacturers from all over the world about the energy efficiency of their equipment and its service life. You can also inquire about maintenance and repair concepts.
However, sustainability in the laboratory starts with the many small laboratory utensils. For example, some tubes and pipette tips made of fossil plastic can be replaced with tips made of bio-based plastics. Many other ideas for the sustainable laboratory can also be found at analytica.
The exhibitor Mettler Toledo has created a poster with tips for sustainable experimental design available for download.
Smaller is better: less waste in the sustainable lab
Disposable gloves, plastic tubes and pipette tips: to reduce plastic waste in the lab, you may be able to use some disposable items more than once. But what about the large quantities of liquid chemical waste? This is where the trend toward miniaturization comes in. Analysis with miniature instruments that process samples in the microliter range or below uses fewer reagents.
In some cases, non-contact analysis is even possible using micro-spectrometers, for example, which do not require any sample preparation or reagents. Discover at analytica how modern analytical technology reduces the consumption of valuable raw materials. You will also find equipment for solvent preparation and collection systems for hazardous chemical waste.
Toxic chemicals and scarce helium: analytics needs sustainable alternatives
Many analytical and laboratory processes - whether in routine analysis, the life sciences or materials research - still rely heavily on solvents and reagents. Options should be explored for replacing substances that are damaging to the environment or health with less harmful chemicals. Talk to specialists at analytica and look at ways to make laboratory workflows more sustainable.
Alternatives to helium are also needed, because this inert gas is becoming scarce and ever more expensive. This is a real issue for analytical laboratories that require high-purity helium as a carrier gas for gas chromatography, among other things. Operating costs can be reduced by working with special gas filters, enabling lower-cost helium with a lower degree of purity to be used. Some systems already have helium-saving device settings or can be operated with alternative gases such as hydrogen.
Learn about the various options at analytica and find a sustainable solution today to a problem that is likely to get worse in the future.
analytica: meeting place for the Green Lab
analytica is the world's leading marketplace for products and services along the entire value chain of sustainable laboratory processes. Three reasons why analytica is your number one trade fair for sustainability:
- analytica showcases all aspects of the Green Lab. Learn about innovations and trends in one-to-one chats, and from talks and live demonstrations. Over 900 exhibitors will be presenting their highlights. Benefit from industry expertise gathered in one place.
- analytica brings you into conversation with key players, decision-makers and leading researchers. Over the three days of the analytica conference, for instance, renowned scientists from all over the world will be presenting their latest developments. Learn how to save resources with modern analytics. The conference will also highlight the importance of analytics in a sustainable economy.
- The practice-oriented supporting program at analytica gives you tips for your day-to-day laboratory work. Best practice examples and direct dialog are the focus of the analytica forums. Get inspiration for the green transformation and make your laboratory fit for the future.
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FAQs about the Green Lab
A Green Lab takes into account the many aspects of sustainability in the laboratory. Equipment and laboratory technology are trimmed for energy efficiency, and when it comes to chemical consumption, the focus is on environmentally friendly substances as well as economical use and resource reuse. Green Labs are also committed to waste prevention and water conservation. Sometimes the term also refers to laboratories that conduct research to increase sustainability, such as developing new energy storage systems or solar cells.
A huge amount of plastic waste is generated in the laboratory. Laboratories may be able to dispense with some disposable items altogether, while others can be used multiple times. In addition, a lot of liquid chemical waste is generated. This is where the trend toward miniaturization comes in. Miniature analysis instruments not only consume less energy, but also fewer reagents, thus helping to reduce waste. In some cases, even non-contact analysis, which does not require any sample preparation or chemicals, is an option. analytica is a mine of information about modern analytical and laboratory technology that helps prevent waste and protects the environment.
In addition to the usual measures, including completely shutting down equipment when not in use, laboratories can save energy in a number of ways. Large appliances in particular often have immense energy requirements. For example, a freezer that cools samples to minus 80 degrees consumes as much energy over the course of a year as a detached house. When purchasing a new device, energy consumption should be the primary concern. Sometimes it is also worth changing the workflow. It may be that a microwave can fulfill the same function as a muffle furnace, while saving energy. analytica offers you the ideal platform to talk to manufacturers from all over the world about the energy efficiency of their equipment.
The inert gas helium is becoming scarce and increasingly expensive. This is a real issue for analytical laboratories that require high-purity helium as a carrier gas for gas chromatography, among other things. Operating costs can be reduced by working with special gas filters, enabling lower-cost helium with a lower degree of purity to be used. Some systems already have helium-saving device settings or can be operated with alternative gases such as hydrogen. Find out at analytica about the sustainable solution to a problem that is likely to get worse in the future.