As the number of samples processed in labs using high-throughput processes has increased, there has been a corresponding rise in the level of waste, such that in 2010, four million pounds of plastic pipet tips were disposed of after just one use. If all these pipet tips were to be lined up end-to-end, the distance would circle the earth six times. This has led to significant environmental pollution. Furthermore, given that one ton of recycled plastic saves 5774 kWh of electricity, recycling all of these tips would conserve enough electricity to power 1354 homes or 200,486 laptops for one year.

Grenova views the high consumption of plastic pipette tips as an area where companies can reduce operational cost and plastic waste that is going into the environment. Therefore, they have made it their mission to help reduce laboratory waste and reduce costs on consumables. The TipNovus high-throughput automated pipet tip...

A full TipNovus system consists of a control box, washer, dryer, and reagent reservoirs that allow labs to load up to 384 tips at a time for an automated wash. A custom software application, “L.E.A.F.,” was developed that enables users to easily build and customize their own wash protocol and download them to the system. Lab personnel can then access these wash methods through an intuitive touch screen on the control box. No other system like this exists on the market.

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