Reduce Laboratory Consumable Waste
Find out where you are wasting your consumables.
Before changing buying patterns, investigate why supplies are being thrown away.
Maintain a simple waste log, noting the item, quantity, estimated cost and reason for disposal. Useful categories are:
- Outdated before use.
- Packaging damage or storage damage.
- Wrong specification or incompatible equipment.
- Unnecessarily open.
- contaminated in handling.
- Used in preventable repeat testing
Reviewing these records helps determine whether the problem lies in purchasing or in storage/workflow.
A high rate of expired tubes being discarded could be a sign of overordering. Disposing of damaged sterile packs may be a sign of crowded shelves or poor handling. They all need alternatives.
Purchase Based on Usage, Shelf Life and Lead Time
Buying in bulk can reduce the cost per unit, but this is lost if the products expire before they can be used.
“Base your purchase orders on recent consumption, anticipated workload, supplier lead time and usable stock currently in hand. Include outstanding purchase orders to prevent duplicate ordering of the same requirement.
Set minimum and maximum stock levels for every item. The WHO lab guidance recommends setting these according to use, with minimums to ensure timely reordering and maximums to prevent expiry. It also suggests that product specifications be established, including a minimum remaining shelf life at delivery.
Slower-moving supplies may not be practical for large purchases, and smaller packs or scheduled deliveries may be more convenient. ensure the delivery setup still gives you enough stock to meet forecast demand and reasonable disruption.
Use Stock in Order of Expiry Date
Supplies can expire at the back of a cupboard, as the newer stock is used first.
First Expiry, First Out (FEFO) is used for dated products, meaning the acceptable batch with the earliest expiry date is used, even if it was received more recently.
Make the process simpler by:
- Batch numbers and expiry dates should be visible.
- Batch separation for different expiration dates.
- Using up the stock that is nearest to its expiry date.
- Flagging the inventory record for imminent expiry.
- Checking inventory before reordering.
WHO storage guidelines recommend that supplies be organised to ensure convenient access to items closest to expiry and that records be kept of relevant receipt, opening and expiry information.
Never use stock rotation to return expired, damaged, recalled or otherwise inappropriate products for use.
Store Properly to Protect Supplies
Laboratory supplies may become useless before their expiry date if stored improperly.
Store according to manufacturer’s instructions for temperature, humidity, exposure to light and packaging. Do not overload shelves or stack heavy cartons on crushable products.
If applicable, include the opening date and the manufacturer's allowed usage time once opened. The printed expiry date alone doesn't tell you how long an opened product is suitable.
WHO guidance highlights storage conditions as specified by the supplier and protection from light, humidity and physical damage.
Restrict Excess Opening and Handling
Stocking supplies “just in case” can lead to waste when the procedure changes or the item is not used.
Set up the work area according to the procedure, opening sterile or protected products as needed. Keep reserve stock in original packaging and not stored on benches, where it may be subject to spills or contamination.
Set clear issue quantities for workstations so staff take what they need without creating hidden stockpiles.
Waste reduction should not compromise existing safety practices. Reduce usage by not reusing single-use items, reducing personal protective equipment needed, or removing controls. Reusable alternatives should be introduced only where the intended use, validated processing, and laboratory procedures support it.
Cut down on unnecessary rework.
Some consumables are wasted if a test or collection process has to be repeated.
Identify recurring problems, including, but not limited to: Wrong type of container used for specimens, Wrong way of labelling specimens, Insufficient material in specimens for testing, Problems arising from the way specimens are handled, Equipment problems. Use findings to improve staff training and procedures.
For example, a clear collection guide may help staff select the correct container before taking a specimen. A check before processing can catch a mismatch before more supplies are opened.
The aim is to remove unnecessary repeats while still preserving all the quality controls, confirmatory work and repeat testing that is required by the laboratory’s procedures.
Properly Segregate Laboratory Waste
Segregation of waste does not mean buying fewer consumables, but it means that clean, non-hazardous material is not unnecessarily going into hazardous waste streams.
Segregate waste at the point of origin into categories suitable for the actual hazards and per your laboratory’s approved procedures. Clean outer packaging may be eligible for recycling where the local collection service accepts it; contaminated materials need another path.
WHO guidance recommends a documented waste segregation and disposal procedure, clearly labelled containers and staff training. Different waste categories may require different handling, and incompatible chemical wastes should not be mixed.
Why Elumia Med Store?
Better lab inventory management through consistent purchasing. When you know the exact specification and the pack quantity, it is easy to match orders against your stock records and expected usage.
Elumia Med Store offers an online catalogue of medical equipment and healthcare consumables, delivered throughout the UAE. Product listings, where available, also include specifications and pack quantities, so buyers can review supplies before ordering.
Please check the specification required, availability, shelf life remaining if applicable and delivery expectations before ordering lab consumables. Checks can help prevent inappropriate buying and excess stock.
Drop by Elumia Med Store to check out your healthcare supply choices and discuss what you need to buy.
Concluding Thoughts
Waste reduction in laboratory consumables begins before the waste bin. Accurate ordering, clear specifications, correct storage and rotating stock based on expiry all help to avoid losing usable supplies.
Start with the products your lab throws away most often. Find out why you lost, make a practical change, and see the result. A consistent process can guard the purchasing budget and assist reliable laboratory work.
FAQ’s
1. Where should you start to reduce laboratory consumable waste?
Maintain a waste log that documents what you are throwing away and the reason for throwing it away. This helps to identify if the root cause is expiry, damage, wrong ordering, contamination or avoidable repeat work.
2. How can laboratories avoid expiry of supplies?
Track expiry date by batch, use first expiry, first out and order quantities to align with realistic consumption. If expiry is important, come to an agreement on the acceptable shelf life remaining before buying products.
3. Are lab consumables always cheaper when bought in bulk?
No. Buying in bulk only makes sense if the stock can be used within its shelf life and stored properly. Compare the savings on purchase with the risk of expiry, damage and over-storage.
4. Can we reuse single-use laboratory consumables to reduce waste?
Don’t routinely reuse single-use consumables to reduce waste. Prevent unnecessary opening, incorrect purchasing and avoidable repeat work. Any move to reusable products necessitates adequate technical assessment and validated procedures.
5. Would it be possible to recycle lab plastic waste?
The recycling provider will accept only suitable, uncontaminated materials into that stream, per laboratory procedures and local requirements. Plastic that is chemically or biologically contaminated and would otherwise be recyclable may not be appropriate for normal recycling.