Done in early 2025, to quantify the amount of plastic waste generated from scientific laboratories, we conducted weekly waste audits. From there, we amplified the issue of plastic waste in scientific laboratories at sustainability events across Iowa! The results from the first 3 weeks are listed below. 

A pilot lab annually spent $436 on cuvettes (for microbial growth measurement) alone. Using a Standard Cuvette Cleaner (~$280), a lab could save up to $4,080 in ten years while preventing thousands of cuvettes from filling the land space. Most of the scientists in our pilot laboratory were unaware of this technology. 

Please view our tutorials below on how to use this technology below.