Sustainable practice matrix for analytical science

Good governance addresses economic, environmental and social responsibilities and, hence, sustainable practice. Waste reduction, resource preservation and efficiency improvements are opportunities for sustainable practice across laboratory activities. An increase in storage temperature from -80 °C to -70 °C for a 500 l freezer can currently save around £550 per year. This Technical Brief presents an assessment matrix to tackle the tension between sustainable practice attainability and progress. It draws on similarities to the safety risk assessment heatmap matrix of likelihood and impact of exposure to hazards. The sustainable practice matrix is a tool to help practitioners focus on opportunities for sustainability improvements across laboratory activities. It facilitates taking those first steps, no matter how small, and considers longer-term sustainable practice strategies. This discussion includes application of the sustainability assessment matrix, with examples of plastic pipette tip reuse and plasma-sample freezer storage temperature increase.