Rainin Instrument, a subsidiary of Mettler Toledo and the largest-selling pipette brand in North America, has launched a new program to encourage its customers to reuse the heavy-duty cardboard return kits it sends to those who request mail-in service for their pipettes. Working in partnership with American Forests, Rainin will plant a tree each time a customer reuses one of the company’s pipette return kits.
As the largest pipette service provider in North America, Rainin sends out tens of thousands of the cardboard service return kits each year. As customers become more fully aware of the program, the company anticipates that it will be able to reduce its use of new packing materials by as much as 50%. When a box reaches the end of its service life, both the outer cardboard shell and secure foam inserts will be recycled, further reducing each kit’s environmental impact.
“This is the latest step along Rainin’s path toward becoming a more sustainable and resource-sensitive company,” explains Ana Paula Fernandes, head of sales for Rainin in the U.S. “Many of our sustainability initiatives until now have had the added benefit of helping reduce operating costs or improve processes. Now, through this partnership with American Forests, we have created an extraordinary opportunity to not only reduce packaging costs and promote reuse, but to invest in reforestation efforts around the world. It’s something that we are very proud to be a part of and believe that our service customers will too.”
In addition to redesigning the boxes, which are now made with cardboard that contains 40% post consumer fiber, the service management system has been modified to electronically record when a reused kit is received and reports this information to American Forests each month. As kits are received at the company’s service centers, a technician notes the reused box in the customer’s service order, then stamps the side of the box to physically record how many times it has been reused. Boxes are taken out of circulation automatically after six rotations, or whenever a box is torn, dented, or otherwise compromised. “Pipettes are precision instruments, and we go to great lengths to make sure they are well cared-for,” says Fernandes.
“American Forests applauds the leadership role that Rainin is taking in advocating responsible recycling practices and promoting the importance of forests to its customers,” says Lea Sloan, vice president of communications, American Forests. “Forests are the most important land-based ecosystem in preserving the health of our planet, including helping to moderate the impact of climate change.”
