Some major pharmaceutical companies have made it their objective to attain net zero carbon emissions before 2050. This objective can be achieved by improving operational efficiency. Therefore how well a company’s LIMS (lab information management system) manages and tracks assets will impact the extent an organization can reduce its carbon footprint.

Reduction of Shipping

Reducing the number of materials utilized for drug development will also decrease the volume and weight of products that need packaging and transporting. As a result, carbon emissions will be reduced. Your company can reduce its shipping needs by maximizing the effectiveness of what you already have. Before you can do this, your team must know precisely what you have.

Contribution of LIMS

A LIMS can provide clarity by streamlining inventory management by tracking supplies and raw materials. This insight assists laboratory staff by allowing them to maintain a first-in / first-out approach to ordering supplies and raw materials, thereby decreasing waste. If fewer items require replacement due to expiration, shipping and transportation costs will be decreased. In addition, the quantity of product packaging will also be reduced. In cases where special handling is required, such as refrigeration or extra-cold storage, the carbon savings will be significantly more.

Improved Inventory Tracking

Closer inventory tracking will also decrease overhead costs because the required storage space will be reduced. Minimizing storage needs lets a company lease a smaller storage facility or rent out a portion of its storage space. In both instances, it can lead to utilizing less space, which decreases cooling, heating, lighting, and maintenance costs, all of which can decrease the organization’s carbon footprint.

Workflow Automation

An important benefit of LIMS key is workflow automation. This solution can optimize a lab’s resources and decrease mistakes. To illustrate, linking instruments, including chemistry analyzers and liquid chromatographs, to a LIMS allows their data to be automatically stored inside the LIMS in real-time. Thus, the risk of human transcription errors is eliminated.

When data is accurate, it improves the analytical abilities of your team. Time and effort are also saved because it decreases the need to repeat experiments and evaluate them. Thus, fewer buffers, labware, reagents, and utilities are needed to achieve needed results, decreasing the resulting carbon footprint. 

Part 2 will discuss Increased Collaboration, STARLIMS Integrated Solutions, and Regulatory Compliance.

Alpha LIMS Implementation

Alpha has been involved with implementing over 50 LIMS systems ranging in size from small, “off-the-shelf” software systems to very large, highly customized, multi-functional systems, including STARLIMS, for both governmental agencies and private enterprises. For affordable client-focused network consulting services and solutions, please call Alpha today at (410) 295-9500.