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.
Saving plastic, reducing impact.
TIPONE® CLOSED-LOOP RECYCLING
Starlab's closed-loop recycling service for TipOne® polypropylene components provides several environmental benefits, it:
- reduces waste
- reuses resources
- saves CO2e emissions
The closed-loop recycling service is not available outside Austria, Germany, France, Italy or the UK, but other TipOne® recycling collections are available in some areas. Alternatively, if your site already has a recycling stream for PP, you can use this to recycle your TipOne® packaging. Please contact your TipOne® distributor who can advise if there is a service in your area, or for the latest information:
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 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
During 2024 and 2025, the recycling service saved a total of ~104.8 tonnes of CO2e which is about the average annual carbon sequestration of 4,355 trees.
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.
When you choose TipOne®, you not only get a high-quality, easy-to-use pipette tip system—you also support a sustainable, circular process that keeps polypropylene in the production cycle and reuses it to create new racks.
Being 'green' behind the scenes
SALES TEAM
Promotes TipOne® refills to customers as the plastic-saving and economical 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
All customer deliveries by UPS courier are carbon off-set. For 2025, UPS mitigated 197.01 tonnes of CO2e on behalf of the Starlab Group. 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% bio-degradable paper packaging. 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, to 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.
Articles and podcasts
In our NEWSROOM, we have a library of interesting articles covering sustainability in the lab, covering 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!
