Do You Really Need That? Reducing Waste Through Equipment Sharing

Labs are packed with equipment — workhorses like centrifuges, spectrometers, and stirrers. But step back and ask: how many of them are actually in use right now?

The truth is uncomfortable. Many labs have equipment that sits idle, while the lab next door buys another version of the same thing. This isn’t just inefficient — it’s wasteful, expensive, and environmentally unsustainable. If we’re serious about sustainability in science, we need to stop normalising this culture of isolated ownership and start embracing equipment sharing as a strategic, climate-conscious choice.

The Problem: Redundant Purchases and Underused Equipment

Too many labs operate in silos, with no visibility into what resources already exist around them. The default response to a new project? Buy more stuff. But this habit comes at a cost:

• Financial: Duplicate purchases drain budgets and reduce funds available for hiring, training, and core science.

• Carbon: Lab instruments are resource-intensive to produce and transport. Every unnecessary purchase adds to Scope 3 emissions — those generated throughout an equipment’s entire lifecycle.

• Space: Many labs are bursting at the seams, yet still store instruments that haven’t been touched in months.

  
  

All of this is usually avoidable.

A Smarter Approach: Track It. Share It. Use It Better.

The fix isn’t complicated — it’s just underused. Shared equipment inventories can improve efficiency while cutting environmental impact. This isn’t about being nice — it’s about being smart.

• Fewer Purchases, More Savings: Sharing access across teams or departments avoids duplicate spending on expensive equipment. It’s simple maths — and smart leadership.

• Better Use of What We Already Own: Why let a £50,000 instrument sit idle 90% of the time? Sharing ensures that every piece of equipment actually earns its keep.

• Lower Environmental Burden: Buying less means extracting fewer materials, generating fewer emissions, and avoiding waste at end of life.

  
  

Real-World Examples: Labs Are Already Doing This

You don’t need to reinvent the wheel — just learn from what works.

• Shared Core Facilities: From NMRs to mass specs, many organisations already run centralised platforms where lab users book time instead of buying.

• Cross-Team Sharing: Shared rotavaps, centrifuges, and even PCR machines are common where teams proactively coordinate and communicate.

• Digital Booking Tools: Simple spreadsheets or platforms allow researchers to check availability, reserve time, and avoid redundant purchases.

  
  

If it works for complex, high-cost instruments, it can work for the everyday tools too.

Making It Happen: Steps to Build a Shared Equipment System

1. Audit Your Equipment: What’s collecting dust in your lab? Catalogue it.

2. Go Central: Use a shared database (or even a spreadsheet) that shows who owns what and how to request access.

3. Set the Rules: Clear expectations around booking, maintenance, and responsibilities make sharing sustainable.

4. Build the Culture: Start normalising sharing. Celebrate it. Make it a point of pride.

5. Track the Wins: Measure cost savings and carbon reductions. Use that data to justify support — or funding — for future shared systems.

   
   
   
   

Action for the Week:

Pick one piece of equipment in your lab that’s underused. Now ask yourself — could someone else benefit from this? Then start the conversation. Lead by example.