v2026.1CASRAI Dictionary 1,610 entries across 24 domains · CC-BY 4.01,610 entries · CC-BY 4.0

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Single-use plastic alternatives

Materials and product designs that substitute for traditional single-use polymer consumables in research workflows, including bio-based polymers, autoclavable glassware, reduced-plastic packaging, and refill-and-wash systems.

ByCASRAI Editorial Board

· Last updated 21 May 2026

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Examples

Worked examples

Is an instance
A genomics lab pilots PHA pipette tips and runs a 6-month performance comparison against virgin polypropylene.
Is an instance
A supplier removes 60 percent of plastic packaging from PCR plate shipments by switching to fibre-based moulded inserts.

Counter-examples

Looks similar, but isn't

Not an instance
Switching one disposable plastic for another single-use plastic with no environmental benefit is not an alternative.
Not an instance
Adopting a bio-plastic that requires industrial composting unavailable in the region is greenwashing.

Editorial commentary

Alternatives include drop-in substitutes (bio-based PHA tubes for polypropylene tubes), workflow redesigns (centralised reagent dispensing replacing individual single-use bottles), and supplier-side reductions (bulk-packaging take-back, recyclable mono-material packaging). Evaluation requires lifecycle thinking: a bio-based plastic may have lower fossil input but worse end-of-life recyclability in a given region. The Sustainable Laboratories community curates an open list of validated alternatives.

References

LabConscious alternatives directory; International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories knowledge base.

Also known as

Plastic substitutes (lab) · Alternative consumables

Machine-readable encodings

Use in your systems

JATS XML <role> element

xml

<role vocab="credit"
      vocab-identifier="https://casrai.org/dictionary/"
      vocab-term="Single-use plastic alternatives"
      vocab-term-identifier="https://casrai.org/dictionary/term/single-use-plastic-alternatives" />

Schema.org DefinedTerm (JSON-LD)

json

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  "description": "Materials and product designs that substitute for traditional single-use polymer consumables in research workflows, including bio-based polymers, autoclavable glassware, reduced-plastic packaging, and refill-and-wash systems.",
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  "sameAs": [
    "Plastic substitutes (lab)",
    "Alternative consumables"
  ],
  "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
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  },
  "dateModified": "2026-05-21T02:23:01",
  "inLanguage": "en"
}

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