Re-use for the Lab, Re-duce for the Planet!
To reduce waste and provide sustainable and affordable alternatives to buying new, Sustainability has partnered with the Chemistry Department, the UC Davis Bookstore, and Student Housing and Dining Services to pilot a campuswide program that collects and cleans lab coats and goggles to give them a second life! Currently available only to UC Davis undergraduates, this program will re-use hundreds of pounds of textile and plastic a year, reducing the overall carbon footprint of our campus!
How can you get one?
Professionally cleaned and sanitized lab coats are available for a reduced rate at the UC Davis Bookstore at the start of each academic year.
Lab coats each feature a Lab Coat Reuse Program patch to show off each user's contribution sustainability efforts!
Check out the UCD Sustainability Instagram for more details on where to get your own Re-Used Lab Coat.
Collection Locations
- 3rd floor of the Earth and Physical Sciences building, across from room 3314.
- Campus residents can donate their used lab coats as part of the Aggies Give & Go program at bins located near the Area Service Desks of Yosemite Hall, Segundo Services Center, and Tercero Services Center.
Why does it matter?
Thanks to donations collected in Spring 2024, Sustainability has re-circulated 119 lab coats and 94 goggles. The lab coats alone reduced carbon emissions by over 350 kg CO2E, similar to driving about 900 miles in a passenger vehicle!
The Lab Coat Re-Use Program aligns with the university's Zero Waste goals, which aim to divert at least 90% of total waste away from landfills while reducing the amount of waste generated per person. Waste contributes to climate change, with carbon emissions arising from production and the decomposition of materials in landfills. Find out more about our Zero Waste goals and the actions we're taking to meet them.
This program also offers students a more affordable option when purchasing coats and goggles.