Rainin EarthRack biodegradable pipette tip rack

Rainin has developed a solution to address the growing concern of plastic consumption in laboratories. The EarthRack is the company’s answer to the question many have been asking: how can we consume less plastic in our lab?

The rack’s base and lid are made from purified cellulose fibres sourced from ultra-renewable bamboo and bagasse, a by-product of sugar cane farming; this means that all the carbon used in the production of the product is already in circulation above the Earth’s surface. By replacing plastic with cellulose, the unit reduces plastic waste mass by up to 75% compared to traditional racks, the company says.

The production and use of plastic products demands energy and results in the release of carbon from fossil fuels at every stage of their life cycle, including recycling at end of life. In contrast, EarthRack’s cellulose base and lid are 100% compostable under natural conditions.

When the racks are sent to landfill they naturally decompose into soil and, if incinerated for biohazard reasons, the carbon returned to the atmosphere is re-absorbed by new EarthRacks. Additionally, if incinerated for energy production, there is no net increase in atmospheric carbon. Furthermore, empty racks can be easily compressed and are lightweight, which should result in lower waste output than traditional plastic racks.

The product thus provides a sustainable option to pipetting by eliminating plastic use for everything but the pipette tips and tip deck, enabling users to perform cutting-edge research with high-quality Rainin tips while reducing their waste production.