Biodegradable Pipette Tip Racks

EarthRack is a new, first of its kind tip rack that is composed almost entirely of molded cellulose.

The primary difference between EarthRack and conventional plastic racks is the amount of plastic mass they contain and the resulting plastic waste they generate. This is directly related to their impact on the environment, both in terms of plastic waste and the amount of CO2 they release into the atmosphere. For example, an EarthRack has 67-70% less plastic weight than the conventional Rainin polypropylene tip rack. This is the mass of plastic waste eliminated from landfills or incineration. Cellulose is regarded as "carbon neutral" and does not require petroleum as the starting material.

EarthRack’s base and lid are composed of a blend of rapidly renewable bamboo and sugar cane fibers.

67-70% of the entire ER mass is compostable. The polypropylene tip deck (an unavoidable plastic component) is not. A polypropylene tip deck is necessary because a hard, inflexible substance is required to accommodate the focused forces associated with tip loading.

EarthRack is only with three volumes of LTS tips (20 µL, 200 µL and 1000 µL). 

Yes, EarthRack is designed for both single- and multi-channel LTS pipettes.

Not quite. Cellulose is somewhat compressible and flexes more easily than the polypropylene walls of conventional plastic tip racks. However, ERs exceed the strength required for routine tip loading with both single- and multichannel pipettes.

No. This is presently not achievable with the current cellulose molding techniques.

Remove the polypropylene tip deck and place it in the Class #5 plastic waste container. All remaining EarthRack components should preferably be disposed of with compostable waste. If that’s not an option, EarthRack will biodegrade when landfilled.

No.

No, but they are moderately water-resistant. If water is dripped onto ER, it should be removed within a few minutes to prevent absorption and softening of the cellulose material. An EarthRack should never be left in standing water. EarthRacks can be surface-sterilized by spraying them with alcohol.

No. They are certified to be "BioClean Green" – a new, rigorous testing process designed specifically for naturally-sourced materials. 

Yes, this is due to the costs associated with sourcing, molding, and testing the cellulose material. The list prices are approximately 10% higher than more conventional rack products.

In terms of customer applications, we have presently not identified any. It is conceivable that certain areas exist within individual customer labs in which the avoidance of cellulose fibers is viewed as important.