IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v12y2020i21p8934-d435684.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Creating a Green Chemistry Lab: Towards Sustainable Resource Management and Responsible Purchasing

Author

Listed:
  • Junkal Gutierrez

    (Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Vitoria-Gasteiz, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), C/ Nieves Cano 12, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
    Group ‘Materials+Technologies’ (GMT), Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Gipuzkoa, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Plaza Europa 1, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain)

  • Arrate Santaolalla

    (Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Vitoria-Gasteiz, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), C/ Nieves Cano 12, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain)

  • Agnieszka Tercjak

    (Group ‘Materials+Technologies’ (GMT), Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Gipuzkoa, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Plaza Europa 1, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain)

  • Naiara Rojo

    (Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Vitoria-Gasteiz, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), C/ Nieves Cano 12, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain)

  • Dolores Encinas

    (Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Vitoria-Gasteiz, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), C/ Nieves Cano 12, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain)

  • Zuriñe Gomez-de-Balugera

    (Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Vitoria-Gasteiz, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), C/ Nieves Cano 12, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain)

  • Gorka Gallastegui

    (Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Vitoria-Gasteiz, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), C/ Nieves Cano 12, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain)

Abstract

The main goal of this project was to improve the efficiency and sustainability of the chemistry teaching laboratories of the Faculty of Engineering Vitoria-Gasteiz (University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU)). With this aim, three different actions were developed. The first two actions aspired to achieve and maintain order and maximize efficiency within the facilities. With this in mind, the first phase involved carrying out an inventory, classifying, and rearranging all the chemical products in the warehouse using a computer storage system. Secondly, 5S lean methodology was implemented in the laboratories. The final phase included the development of a protocol for a joint purchasing strategy of chemical reagents that fostered a more responsible and sustainable acquisition and management of the substances used in various departments of the UPV/EHU. This protocol plays a key role in the transition towards the Circular Economy and its importance lies in the fact that it could be extended to other departments and faculties with similar needs. This project was developed during last two academic years (2017/2019) in the frame of the Campus Bizia Lab Programme, an initiative created to address sustainability challenges within the University.

Suggested Citation

  • Junkal Gutierrez & Arrate Santaolalla & Agnieszka Tercjak & Naiara Rojo & Dolores Encinas & Zuriñe Gomez-de-Balugera & Gorka Gallastegui, 2020. "Creating a Green Chemistry Lab: Towards Sustainable Resource Management and Responsible Purchasing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-15, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:21:p:8934-:d:435684
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/21/8934/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/21/8934/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Elie Dolgin, 2018. "How going green can raise cash for your lab," Nature, Nature, vol. 554(7691), pages 265-267, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.

      Corrections

      All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:21:p:8934-:d:435684. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

      If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

      If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

      If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

      For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

      Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

      IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.