Veolia and GreenLabs jointly launch innovative recycling of plastic lab containers
As part of a joint commitment between Veolia North America and MassBio, GreenLabs has developed a groundbreaking, hyperlocal process for recycling plastic lab containers used in medical waste facilities in the Greater Boston area.
According to a recent agreement between GreenLabs and Veolia, the recycling initiative is now operational, utilizing Veolia’s medical waste processing center in Middleton, Massachusetts, to aggregate plastics for GreenLabs. This initiative reduces landfill disposal of lab plastics and addresses the growing challenge of managing plastic waste, exacerbated by restrictive global market conditions in recent years.
GreenLabs’ solution establishes a hyperlocal recycling and manufacturing ecosystem for lab plastic consumables. The company recycles pipette tip boxes into a lab product called a tips transfer bin, manufactured near Boston. Scientists use these bins, made from 100% recycled plastic, to deposit used tips, creating a visible connection between waste and its transformation into new products.
Lab plastics designated for recycling are transported from waste generators to Veolia’s Middleton facility, where they are consolidated and shipped to GreenLabs’ recycling facility in Concord. There, the plastics are separated, granulated, and prepared for molding into 100% recycled plastic products. The granulated material is then transformed into transfer bins at a nearby molding facility, maintaining a circular economy within a 50-mile radius of one of the world’s largest life science hubs.
The concept for recycling lab plastics in Massachusetts was pioneered by GreenLabs, a Concord-based startup located approximately 20 miles outside Boston. After developing the concept, GreenLabs CEO Sam White sought partners with extensive resources and a strong reputation in biotech to scale the recycling solution and divert more plastic from landfills.
He began by connecting with MassBio, the leading biotech association in Massachusetts and one of the largest biotech networks in the U.S., which represents hundreds of global medical and biotech companies. MassBio quickly linked GreenLabs with Veolia, a long-time provider of environmental services to MassBio members for over 20 years.
Veolia, a leading waste management provider for Massachusetts biotech firms, is committed to supporting innovative solutions like GreenLabs’ recycling initiative through its GreenUp strategy, which promotes environmental sustainability. Veolia aims to foster a robust innovation ecosystem by partnering with universities, accelerators, and startups.
Jason Cordeiro, Chief Operating Officer for MassBio said, “We have listened to our members and we are happy to have forged this partnership on their behalf.”
White also expressed, “I was fortunate to have strong levels of support that have made this process a success. This partnership helps us realize our vision for good ideas that make the planet a cleaner place.”
“Veolia could not be more pleased to support Sam White and his innovative start-up through our partnerships with MassBio and GreenLabs, which is consistent with Veolia’s global GreenUp strategy for growth and innovation,” said Bob Cappadona, President and CEO of Veolia North America’s Environmental Solutions and Services business, which oversees the company’s medical waste management services. “This is a unique partnership in which each organization has something of great value to contribute, and that helps bring greater sustainability to our industry.”
