In a recent Nature article, Marie Launay (McGill University) explores how research labs can align their daily practices with sustainability. Reflecting on her own experiences as a PhD researcher in fish biology, the author describes how she was struck by the widespread reliance on single-use plastics within many labs. Determined to address this, Launay and her team decided to quantify their waste and implement targeted solutions by reusing instruments and making sustainable purchases. She suggests that other researchers can adopt more environmentally friendly practices in the lab by first measuring their plastic waste and then making incremental improvements. “Every small action adds up, and it’s the collective efforts of scientists that will truly drive change in our practices,” Launay concludes.
