Cell culture and sustainability: BenchStable Media

Traditional lab practices, especially those that rely on cold storage, can significantly contribute to energy usage and carbon emissions. Cold storage alone accounts for around 25% of a typical lab’s energy consumption, putting pressure on labs to find more energy-efficient alternatives that align with their increasingly ambitious sustainability goals. 

But how can labs achieve this without compromising the quality of their research? 

One effective way to begin this shift is to audit your lab’s use of cold storage. This could include better sample management to reduce the frequency of freezer door openings, or adjusting freezer temperatures to lower energy consumption. 

Sustainability at room temperature

Another solution is transitioning to products that eliminate the need for cold storage altogether, such as Gibco BenchStable Media. Available in the most commonly used basal media formulations, these products offer reliable room-temperature storage. By freeing up valuable cold storage space and reducing energy requirements, BenchStable Media allows labs to enhance their sustainability while maintaining optimal performance, which makes them a simple and impactful step toward sustainable lab operations. 

Here’s how switching to BenchStable Media can help any lab progress towards its sustainability goals:

• Energy efficiency through ambient storage: Storing BenchStable media at room temperature eliminates the need for refrigeration, reducing a lab’s overall energy consumption. Thermo Fisher estimates that a global shift to ambient-stored media could save 34 GWh of energy per year – equivalent to removing more than 5,000 cars from the road.

• Eco-friendly packaging: BenchStable media’s packaging is designed with sustainability in mind. The 100% recyclable paperboard box with a light-protective interior reduces waste, and the bottles themselves are crafted from recyclable plastics, minimizing the environmental impact of lab waste. 

• Support for lab operations: Ambient-stored media offers labs practical benefits beyond energy savings. By reducing reliance on cold storage, labs can optimise their storage space, lower operational costs, and streamline inventory management.

Starting simple and sustainable

Implementing lab-wide sustainable practices can feel daunting, but choosing products like BenchStable Media is an easy, impactful first step. Labs incorporating such products can make meaningful strides toward reducing their environmental footprint without needing complex overhauls or costly infrastructure changes.  

Thermo Fisher’s range Gibco BenchStable Media represents a smart choice for labs committed to sustainability. By reducing energy demands, using recyclable packaging, and offering a reliable alternative to traditional cold-stored media, it empowers labs to start building a greener future today. 

© 2025 Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. All rights reserved. All trademarks are the property of Thermo Fisher Scientific and its subsidiaries unless otherwise specified.