Sustainability

The IDIBAPS is committed to promoting more sustainable practices to reduce the considerable impact that research activity has on the environment. This is why theSustainability Committee was established in mid-2022.   

The committee´s work has included the creation of a Manual of good practices, which includes actions that can be applied both in the workplace, in the labs and in the offices, to reduce the environmental impact of our work and personal activity. It is a living document, which will be regularly updated. 

In addition to preparing the manual, the IDIBAPS has carried out other actions towards a more sustainable research institute. Some examples include:  

  • The installation of recyclable containers for type III (biological) waste in the CEK building to reduce the use of single-use plastic containers.  

  • The use of washable blue lab coats in the cell culture rooms to avoid single-use ones.  

  • The collection of aluminium coffee capsules and delivery to green recycling points.  

  • The gathering of plastic caps for sustainability and solidarity campaigns.  

  • The collection and cleaning of expanded polystyrene boxes and icepacks, which are received daily, to deliver them to a distribution company for reuse.  

  • The use of timers on laboratory equipment to avoid that they are being left on all night unnecessarily (microscopes, water baths, centrifuges, etc.).  

  • A campaign to increase the temperature of the ultra-cold temperature freezers, from -75-80ºC to -70ºC.  

  • The use of recycled paper and doubled-sided printing in black and white by default on institutional printers.  

  • The collection of organic waste in the CEK canteen.  

  • The use of water glass bottles, instead of plastic ones, during catering at all events hosted at the IDIBAPS.  

  • Centralization of supplier deliveries to reduce the number of carrier trips.

  • Improvement in water management: new signage detailing the different types of water at the laboratory taps in the CEK. Installation of new aerators on the running water taps in the restrooms. Adjustments in the water flush regulation of the toilets in the CEK. Renewal of the pure water equipment in the CEK with more efficient models.

News

27/06/2024 A brainstorming session on Sustainability is being organized

12/03/2024 A study on electricity consumption is being initiated at IDIBAPS 

10/01/2024 Protocol de gestió de residus sanitaris (RS)

05/10/2023 IDIBAPS hosts its “Think Green” day, to promote more sustainable research