Science, plastic and conviction: what we shared at Forum Labo 2025 📢
- Typhaine Brual
- Apr 2
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 2
Last week, Artemisia Greentech had the honour of speaking at the Forum Labo Paris 2025 in a special session entitled "Laboratory and environmental challenges: young researchers have solutions". The session was part of the "Green Analytical Project" initiative and featured a series of inspiring presentations on various aspects of laboratory sustainability. Missed the conference? Here's a recap'!
The problem: a blind spot in science
Research is driving major breakthroughs in health, climate and technology - but rarely questions its own environmental costs.
We opened our talk, "The lab on detox: building a startup to reduce plastic addiction in genetics", with facts that still surprise many:
Labs generate 5.5 million tonnes of plastic waste per year worldwide.
They use 4 times more water and 10 times more electricity than an office.
50% of their carbon footprint comes from the purchase of consumables - many of which are single-use plastics.
And that's where we started thinking:
👉 What if every supplier clearly displayed the environmental footprint of their product?
It would change everything. Scientists could:
Compare products based on impact, not just price or delivery times.
Better estimate their emissions from purchase.
Most importantly for those involved in reporting: save time on carbon assessments and ESG reports.
We often hear about the need to "raise awareness among researchers". But at Artemisia Greentech we believe it is just as important to hold suppliers responsible.
That's when the idea behind Artemisia was born.
🚧 The entrepreneurial reality: challenging the norm is not always welcome
As a scientist-turned-founder, building Artemisia Greentech meant facing a wave of objections — some technical, some cultural.
"Sustainable science? I don't believe it. That’s impossible."
A statement we have heard too often. Fortunately, we prove the contrary.
"Don’t worry — someone will invent a biodegradable plastic soon.”
This blind faith in future innovation often becomes an excuse to avoid acting now.
"We need single-use plastic for safety.”
A valid concern — but biosafety and sustainability are not mutually exclusive.
"Going green means going broke.”
Yet when you optimize resources, rethink packaging, and reduce waste, you also save money and increase long-term value.
“It’s just CSR, a marketing checkbox.”
What we are building is not a side initiative, but a core shift in how biotech supply should operate.
"Sounds like a trend — it’ll pass."
And that’s where things get complicated.
The market is full of supposedly environmentally friendly products - from green labels to certifications to tree-planting programmes tied to purchases. It is becoming increasingly difficult for researchers to distinguish genuine sustainability efforts from well-packaged greenwashing.
This is why we went back to basics:
👉 As scientists, when in doubt, we measure.
🛠️ From conviction to action: building measurable solutions
We rely on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) method — the only one currently recognized and recommended by the European Commission. No home-made scores, no unverified labels.
Want to know how it’s calculated, and what it actually measures?
Thanks to this approach, we have managed to cut plastic use by 50% during production and save around 68 kg of CO₂ equivalent with just our first plasmid.
We have shown that yes, a lab supplier can deliver products with a lower and measurable environmental footprint. We have also proven that scientists are not just ready to act — many are already doing it.
💬 What we take away from Forum Labo
👥 Over 100 people attended the session - a powerful sign that scientists are ready to take action on environmental impact.
💚 The feedback was incredibly inspiring, with some participants saying that our story resonated deeply with their own.
💪 And most importantly, we confirmed that young researchers are driving this change. A collective energy is building and we are proud to be part of it.
💡 Want to learn more or collaborate with us? Feel free to contact us! Let’s make research more sustainable together! 🌱
