Foiled for Choice: Carbon Impact Assessment of Laboratory Heating Setups and Insulation Strategies

Abstract Laboratories are major contributors to institutional carbon emissions due to their high energy and material demands. This study presents the first carbon impact assessment of daily laboratory heating practices, specifically evaluating the energy efficiency and lifecycle emissions of common lab heating methods—oil baths, bead baths, and heating blocks—used to heat water to 80 °C. Each method was evaluated over a cradle-to-grave lifecycle, including manufacturing, 2400 use cycles, and end-of-life scenarios (disposal or recycling), with and without foil insulation. Global warming potential (GWP) was calculated using Simapro and Ecoinvent, applying the IPCC 2021 GWP100 V1.03 method. Foil insulation reduced energy use by up to 66%, significantly lowering operational GWP. However, the embodied carbon of foil was substantial when treated as hazardous waste. The carbon impact was significantly reduced when foil was reused at least 4–10 times or recycled at the end of life, highlighting the importance of material reuse and sustainable end-of-life strategies. Among the tested methods, oil baths consistently exhibited the lowest carbon impact in most scenarios. Sensitivity analysis, presented as a calculator tool, showed a dependence on the reaction time, material lifetime, and block weight. These findings underscore the importance of energy-efficient setups, material reuse, and recycling in promoting sustainable labs and responsible consumption, aligning with SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.