Environmental pollution is one of the most serious global challenges we face
However, the blessing of plastic is it also its curse. It has been estimated that 6.3 billion metric tons of plastic waste have been produced until the present day… and only 9% of plastic waste is recycled (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2016; Geyer et al., 2017)!
Eurofins Genomics contributes to the reduction of environmental pollution. With our new campaign, we specifically want to reduce plastic waste by recycling the Böxle.
Böxle, the famous and highly stable mini container made of plastic, is the safest way to send your samples to us. When you order Sanger sequencing barcodes from us, you will automatically receive Böxles for your samples. The important aspect of Böxles is, however, that they are reusable. We do not simply dispose of them. We prepare them for additional use and sample delivery with the help of workers with disabilities from ‘Caritas Wertarbeit’ in Cologne. Here, thousands of Böxles are recycled every week.
The “Böxle Recycling Process”
After your samples reached us safely in the Böxles, we transport the Böxles to ‘Caritas Wertarbeit’, Cologne, where they enter the recycling process:
- Böxles are opened and the inner parts are examined.
- The closing mechanisms are inspected and ensured that that they are intact.
- The sponge inserts are renewed in case they are dirty.
- The labels on the inside are replaced by new ones in case they are dirty.
- The stickers on the fronts are replaced by new ones in case they are dirty.
- Böxles are collected for shipping.
Only a few damaged Böxles are separated out in general. The recycled Böxles find their way to you for reuse.
We reward your commitment to environmental protection
Help us to contribute to environmental protection by recycling of Böxles. Do not discard your unused Böxle. Simply drop them in a Eurofins Genomics DropBox and we will recycle them.
Send us more than 10 Böxle and we will reward you with a surprise gift. Just send us a picture how you drop the Böxles in a Eurofins Genomics DropBox on Facebook and we will send you a surprise gift.
If you are not sure where the closest Eurofins Genomics DropBox is contact Customer Support and they will let you know.
By Dr Andreas Ebertz
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