Polycarbin Brings Sustainable Science to the Classroom

What if the next generation of scientists saw sustainability not as a side note, but as a standard? That’s the vision behind Polycarbin’s recent partnership with the Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation (MassBioEd). By donating low-carbon lab products and providing Closed-Loop recycling services, Polycarbin is helping MassBioEd move sustainability from a concept into practice.

MassBioEd is a nonprofit working to build a stronger, more inclusive life sciences workforce in Massachusetts. They bring hands-on biotech lessons into classrooms across the state, allowing students to work with real lab tools and imagine themselves as future scientists. But these early experiences are about more than mastering techniques. They’re a chance to shape the kind of science students will carry forward into their professional careers.

In the face of a worsening climate crisis, the next generation of researchers must learn to see sustainability as a pillar of innovation. By introducing these values early, MassBioEd is helping students understand that the way we do science matters just as much as the discoveries we make.

Bridging Education and Environmental Responsibility

Laboratories are some of the most resource-intensive environments in the world. Each year, they generate millions of tons of plastic waste and more than 200 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions, with 40% of those stemming from the production and disposal of single-use items like gloves, PPE, and pipette tip boxes.

These consumables are products of the take-make-waste economy, where finite raw materials are extracted, briefly utilized, and discarded, contributing to the growing climate crisis. This cycle is repeated millions of times daily, amplifying the environmental toll of single-use lab plastics. 

That’s why Polycarbin’s Closed-Loop recycling system changed everything. By turning discarded lab plastics into new, high-quality lab consumables, we built a true circular economy for lab materials. Polycarbin keeps valuable plastics out of landfills and reduces scientific research's carbon footprint. 

Every remanufactured product contains 20–100% circular economy resin, and unlike traditional recycling, Polycarbin’s process ensures those plastics are remanufactured into the same products they started as. It’s a data-driven, evidence-based solution designed to reduce reliance on virgin materials while preserving the value of lab-grade plastics.

Creating a Culture of Conscious Science

That model is now reaching the next generation of scientists earlier than ever. By installing recycling bins in educational settings supported by MassBioEd, Polycarbin is helping to expose students to the responsibilities associated with scientific research.  

“Sustainable science isn’t something you learn in a textbook. It’s something you practice,” said James O’Brien, CEO at Polycarbin. “By working with MassBioEd, we’re giving students the chance to see sustainability as part of the scientific method, not separate from it.”

The students engaged in MassBioEd’s programs represent the future of science. Many come from underserved communities and are entering lab environments for the first time. The habits and values they build now will influence how they conduct research and how they lead teams, build companies, and shape the industry in the decades to come.

Leading by Example

Polycarbin’s donation to MassBio Ed is a commitment to redefining how scientific progress and environmental stewardship coexist. From academia to industry, the shift toward sustainable lab operations is underway. With partners like MassBioEd, Polycarbin is not just making science more sustainable today– It's helping to lay the foundation for a future where science and sustainability are deeply intertwined.