Ice Pack Reuse in Laboratories – New Solutions Needed
Do you work in a lab and would like to participate in the creation of a reusing or upcycling scheme for ice packs?
Laboratories receive daily deliveries of reagents that need to be stored at 4°C / 39,2°F. Often a small item will be delivered in a large Styrofoam box surrounded by several ice packs, which keep the contents of the package cool enough to withstand delivery (like a mailable refrigerator). This process ensures that products safely reach the customers. However, it also causes an accumulation of ice packs which usually end up in a general waste bin. In the pictures below, you can see a delivery (left) and ice packs from two parcels trashed in a waste bin (right).
We, a group of sustainability enthusiasts who believe in connecting people, are now looking into possible solutions to reuse, upcycle or recycle these in a better way these ice packs. While searching the web, we saw that some researchers have already tried to tackle this problem at their local universities (UBC, Rochester, UCL). So far, though, we could not find any straightforward example with clear guidelines to set the standard for other institutions. We believe this is due to the absence of a coordinated network in which users, companies delivering temperature-sensitive materials, and eventual third parties interested in ice packs are connected. Therefore, we would like to develop a solution by involving these actors and initiating a discussion.
Do you work in a lab and would like to participate in the creation of a reusing or upcycling scheme for ice packs? Or even, are you familiar with ice packs and would like to share information on how to dispose of them more sustainably?
Please, share with us some more information, and we will keep you in the loop:
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