Small Change - Big Impact
More Meaningful Measurements
Small Changes To Test Strips For Significant Environmental Impact
For over 50 years, our customers have placed their trust in our test strips and papers, which enable semi-quantitative determination of pH, ions, and other compounds directly at sampling or during in-process testing. We continue to demonstrate our commitment to our planet and a sustainable future by exploring ways to improve existing products in our portfolio. We have recently reviewed the current line of MQuant® test strips to identify key opportunities to minimize impact while offering the same performance to clients.
Given the considerable usage of test strips in labs around the world, our aim is to encourage a responsible consumption and production for our MQuant® test strips. The results, described below, highlight the impact of small design changes on product footprint and the need to continue to analyze and improve products. We are continuously assessing opportunities to update the product and improve its sustainability attributes.
impact of small design changes on product footprint
Improving Packaging Raw Material
Cardboard Box: For test strips requiring a cardboard box as secondary packaging, we have begun the transition to certified packaging materials. Using certified materials helps to ensure that our packaging is responsible and sustainably sourced. This type of certification contributes to our sustainable and social responsibility goals that go beyond Green House Gas emissions reduction.
Recycled aluminum tube: The primary tube material was switched from virgin aluminum to using 60% post-industrial recycled aluminum and 40% internal aluminum scrap for packaging. Research has shown that recycled aluminum requires 95% less energy to process than virgin aluminum.1
Improving packaging design by decreasing the use of virgin materials, is aligned with our SMASH packaging program.
Digital Instruction Leaflet
The existing instruction leaflet is now removed and is provided digitally via a QR code on the packaging leading to the My M Safety app.
The digitalization of the leaflet is estimated to avoid more than 2 metric tons of paper per year. Get the app now.
Reducing packaging raw material usage also makes the product lighter to ship.
Greener Alternative Products
Our internal design for sustainability framework fosters the systematic consideration and reduction of our products' environmental footprint. You can find more information about the framework here.
Products that benefit from a meaningful reduction of their environmental footprint or are aligned with other sustainability goals are identified as “Greener Alternative Products” in our portfolio using a green icon. The test strips that have been evaluated for product improvements are identified as “Greener Alternative Products” within the category of “Re-engineered Products”.
Our product design and sustainability teams are continually looking at opportunities to improve. Other potential improvements which may be rolled out at a future date include improved packaging material and reduction of high-energy process related to transport and storage. We will continue to identify opportunities for improving the sustainability of our products to fulfill our commitment to our customers and the environment.
MQuant® test strips are used for the semiquantitative screening of different ions during in process of Food and Beverage and environmental testing.
MQuant® test strips offer semiquantitative detection of more than 30 different ions, organic, and inorganic compounds in the mg/L to g/L concentration range.
Discover our more sustainable test strips. When using our MQuant® test strips, make your everyday analysis a more sustainable one.
Disclaimer: Not every product in the MQuant® portfolio has been affected by the changes identified below. Please contact us directly if you have questions on a specific product.
Related Product Resources
- Water, Environmental, and Food & Beverage Analysis
Hungry for food Safety? Thirsty for clean water? Get the One Stop Shop catalog for Water, Environmental, and Food & Beverage Analysis
- /deepweb/assets/sigmaaldrich/marketing/global/documents/220/617/mqstripscan-bev-testing-wp6985en-ms.pdf
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