Three weeks of passion for the environment

Following the huge success of last year’s event, Hamburg-based laboratory product manufacturer Starlab International is about to hold the 2024 edition of its Sustainability Weeks, now in their sixth year. This year’s series of events will take place from 7 to 25 October 2024, with a special focus on rack reuse and recycling.

Before then, on 20 September 2024, Starlab held its fourth Clean-Up Day, organised in collaboration with its partner Oclean. Around 40 employees spent half a working day collecting rubbish in the Neuer Höltigbaum Nature Reserve near the company headquarters. Small groups of litter pickers also cleaned areas around the UK office. “Clean-Up Day is more than just a clean-up campaign; it sparks an intrinsic drive in our employees to play an active part in protecting the environment,” says Klaus Ambos, President & CEO of Starlab International. “They carry this motivation through into the Sustainability Weeks, where they act as ambassadors, passing their enthusiasm and expertise on to our local laboratories.”

During the Sustainability Weeks, Starlab employees will visit over 100 laboratories in the United Kingdom, Italy, France and Germany to provide information on reducing laboratory plastic waste and their TipOne recycling service. These in-person visits encourage direct exchange and provide practical stimulus for effectively integrating sustainability into everyday laboratory operations.

Alongside this programme, Starlab will hold a series of webinars in various languages with the aim of appealing to international audiences. The seven online events will focus on presenting ideas for embedding sustainability into daily laboratory practices and what to consider when choosing products for your lab.

Starlab Sustainability Weeks enjoy growing success

The success of last year's event shows just how much the topic of sustainability is growing in importance within the laboratory industry. In 2023, over 3,500 participants from universities, clinics and laboratories took part in around 85 events. Particular highlights included the planting of more than 3,000 cacti in Starlab TipOne racks, to serve as a daily reminder of sustainability at work. “The positive response demonstrates the huge demand for sustainability expertise in laboratories, even in economically challenging times,” says Klaus Ambos.

New campaign: ‘You are passionate for science.’

As part of the Sustainability Weeks, Starlab is also presenting the new look and feel of its campaign, which it intended to convey the essence of the brand: passion. Under the title ‘You are passionate for science.’ – echoing Starlab's long-standing brand slogan ‘Passionate for science.’ – the campaign celebrates the dedication with which scientists conduct their research. “Now, more than ever, it’s important to focus on what drives us,” says Klaus Ambos. “Our campaign emphasises the passion manifested in our tireless commitment to science, especially in times of uncertainty.” Starlab sees this passion as a driving force that inspires scientists to keep trying, remain curious and persevere. “As a dependable laboratory product provider, Starlab supports scientists by nurturing this passion, especially in times when it's important to keep going and not give up,” adds Ambos. “At Starlab, we believe that our combination of scientific excellence and environmental awareness enables us to come up with solutions to the challenges of tomorrow.”

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