A University of Guelph grad student wants to make a green difference by reusing and repurposing lab coats.
Ontario Veterinary College student Youstina Makhlouf, president of the U of G club Green Labs Guelph, is launching a program to collect used lab coats.
Makhlouf came up with the idea when an old roommate left their lab coat in a closet when they moved out and she didn’t know what to do with it.
In her third year studies in animal biology she took a course on sustainability and it has informed her career ever since, she said.
“The lab coats that I have personally are made of polyester, those are essentially plastic based, they come in plastic packaging and they do need to be transported from the facility to U of G,” said Makhlouf.
“So all of that, the emissions and the plastic waste, add up. So again, if we can reduce it as much as possible that would be great.”
They have a survey to find out how many students would be willing to donate lab coats. So far 300 people have responded and would donate.
Makhlouf said the collection days will be April 5 and 6. The coats will be cleaned and stored during the summer and distributed at the beginning of September.
Students in bachelors of science, engineering, environmental sciences, agriculture all need to take courses in a lab requiring they wear a lab coat. This is an estimated 2,000 students in need of a lab coat for their first year courses.
Typically lab coats can cost anywhere from $20 to $120 depending on where you purchase from and the quality of the coat. The university bookstore sells lab coats for $19.95.
Makhlouf is still deciding whether to sell the lab coats for a one-time reduced price or a deposit program where students can pay a certain amount upfront and if they return the coat they get their money back.
From the responses from the survey so far, most students prefer the deposit payment method.
“Anyone who has old lab coats please feel free to donate them,” said Makhlouf. They are working on getting gift cards to give to those who donate.
Makhlouf encourages anyone who has similar ideas about sustainability in campus labs to collaborate with Green Labs Guelph.
For more information on the initiative go here.
