{"id":38137,"date":"2023-02-16T12:58:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-16T20:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mygreenlab.org\/?p=38137"},"modified":"2025-08-04T17:25:27","modified_gmt":"2025-08-05T00:25:27","slug":"refurbish-reuse-recycle-the-impact-of-certified-pre-owned-instruments-on-laboratory-sustainability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mygreenlab.org\/sv\/the-beaker-blog\/refurbish-reuse-recycle-the-impact-of-certified-pre-owned-instruments-on-laboratory-sustainability\/","title":{"rendered":"Refurbish, Reuse, Recycle: The Impact of Certified Pre-Owned Instruments on Laboratory Sustainability"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n \n\n \n

With 85% of laboratories reporting sustainability goals*, it\u2019s clear that environmentally responsible practices have become a key focus for a lab\u2019s continued success. But even with goals in place, the question remains: How can a lab become more sustainable, accomplish throughput and research goals, while also staying in budget? At its core, sustainability is doing more with less. Resource savings can also translate to cost savings when considering critical equipment needs by choosing pre-owned instrumentation.<\/p>\n

Laboratory instruments\u2014especially Mass Spectrometers and Atomic Spectroscopy equipment\u2014 are laden with precious metals, silicone chips, and other finite resources. Not to mention the other plastics, electronics, and total energy input required for manufacturing. That\u2019s why it is important to consider providing a second life to a robust analytical instrument when making purchasing decisions for your lab.<\/p>\n

The Circular Economy of Lab Instrumentation
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\nPrograms like Agilent\u2019s\u00a0Certified Pre-Owned Instruments\u00a0help reduce precious resource use, giving analytical instruments a second life through a circular economy model (Figure 1). Once the laboratory that originally purchased a new instrument (the \u201cFirst Lab\u201d) no longer needs it, they can return the used instrument to Agilent through the\u00a0Trade-in and Buyback program^ and receive credit in exchange for the instrument\u2019s residual value. Agilent engineers perform a rigorous inspection, cleaning, and decontamination process so that anything that has touched a sample is thoroughly sonicated and\/or replaced. The instrument next goes through further parts replacement and a suite of tests until it passes original specifications.<\/p>\n\n <\/sc-rich-text>\n \n\n <\/sc-section-header>\n \n \t \"circular<\/picture>\n \n The circular economy of laboratory instrument through Agilent\u2019s Certified Pre-Owned Instrument Program\n <\/sc-rich-text>\n <\/sc-image>\n<\/sc-container>\n\n\n\n \n \n

The certified pre-owned instrument is complete with new covers, consumables, and the latest firmware & software\u2014bringing the instrument back to like-new quality. It is then available for resale to a second lab, making the most of consumed resources.<\/p>\n

For laboratories looking to refresh their instrument fleet, the Trade-In and Buyback program can be beneficial for multiple reasons. First and foremost, it is a means to unlock value from older instrumentation to lessen the capital expenditure initially required to purchase a new instrument. Secondly, valuable bench space can be freed up for more efficient models. The responsibility of instrument disposal is shifted to Agilent, where a team of experts routinely manages these decisions and logistics. Finally, the program serves as an outlet for environmentally conscious waste disposal, resulting in reduced emissions for the company.<\/p>\n\n <\/sc-rich-text>\n <\/sc-container>\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n \n