Starlab has been thinking about sustainability for some time, with long-term corporate planning and durable products. We had already succeeded in saving plastic with the redesign of our TipOne® pipette tip system, but we did not stop there. We continued our journey to make pipetting more sustainable and in January 2025 we were able to close the material loop.

Starlab is proud to be the first company to offer its customers a true, closed-loop recycling service where the recycled plastic is used to make more of the same product. 

Our promise: to continue to take steps wherever we can—whether large or small—to reduce our impact on the environment. 

TIPONE® CLOSED-LOOP RECYCLING

Starlab's closed-loop recycling service for TipOne® polypropylene components provides several environmental benefits:

• reduces waste
• reuses resources
• saves CO₂e emissions

Thank you to all our customers who are using the TipOne® recycling service. We appreciate your commitment to making science more sustainable. We could not do this without you! 

Not using the recycling service? It's easy to use and register:

PLASTIC SAVED FOR HIGH-QUALITY REUSE

By the end of 2025, a total of  ~211.3 tonnes of polypropylene (PP) regrind had been produced from the TipOne® plastic returned by our customers. That is roughly the same weight as 35 average male African bush elephants!

Starlab uses the recycled TipOne® PP to create new TipOne® products. This circular approach to the reuse of resources supports sustainable practices within the manufacturing process.

REDUCING IMPACT

During 2024 and 2025, the recycling service saved a total of ~104.8 tonnes of CO2e. That is about the average annual sequestration of 4355 trees. Download the full data for more detail:

1) Calculated by REMONDIS using the calculation model developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety & Energy Technology (UMSICHT).

2) Calculated using average data per tree from: www.fortomorrow.eu/de/blog/co2-baum

WHAT ARE WE DOING WITH THE RECYCLED PLASTIC?

TipOne® recycled material from the labs is being used in the manufacture of TipOne® racks produced in Germany. Racks made in Germany are produced entirely from recycled polypropylene, with the base material comprising 75% TipOne® post-consumer recyclate returned by customers. 

Register for the Recycling Service now, and actively support our mission to reduce waste, reuse resources and save on emissions through our high-quality recycling process.

SALES TEAM

Promotes TipOne® refills to customers as the plastic-saving and economial alternative to racked tips. Provides free empty racks for refill users. Help customers rationalise product inventory for efficient ordering. Undertakes My Green Lab (MGL) Green Ambassador Course as part of their training.

CARBON OFF-SET DELIVERIES

For all customer deliveries by UPS courier groupwide. For 2025, UPS mitigated 197.01 tonnes of CO₂e on behalf of Starlab. The UPS carbon neutral and carbon offset program has been verified by Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS).

CUSTOMER SERVICES

A 100% paperless office might be an unrealistic goal but we are nearly there! We regularly review and audit internal administrative process and have digitised nearly all processes to reduce paper and printing to an absolute minimum.

WAREHOUSE

Reuses cardboard boxes where possible. Plastic padding has been replaced with 100% biodegradable paper packging. All waste (cardboard, pallets etc) is recycled. Warehouse lighting has been replaced with energy-saving lamps.

SERVICING LABORATORY

Our calibration software provides a paperless system with certificates of calibration provided in pdf format. Car sharing and use of public transport to on-site clinics is used where possible.

MARKETING

Digital first is our mantra!

Our marketing department continues to reduce printed material and increase digital solutions, both externally and internally.

PURCHASING

Product is purchased for the whole Starlab group to ensure efficient transportation. The Starlab Code of Conduct requires our business partners to manage human rights and environmental risks in their supply chains, protect the environment and uphold strict standards of integrity, fair business conduct and compliance.

PRODUCT MANAGEMENT

Reviews and streamlines product portfolio. Audits packaging to reduce excess where possible. Works with R&D on the development of greener products and packaging that use fewer raw materials without compromise to quality. January 2025 saw the start of the move of TipOne® production from USA to Germany. By placing manufacturing closer to our customers, Starlab is embracing "local for local" production and reducing environmental impact in our supply chain.

In our NEWSROOM, we have a library of interesting articles covering sustainability in the lab, on topics such as water usage, energy consumption, and how what you buy and use in the lab matters.

You will find our podcasts here too!