Laboratory Weighing with Sustainability in Mind

Precision and ESG Excellence

At METTLER TOLEDO, we prioritize laboratory weighing with sustainability in mind, actively minimizing environmental impact and supporting ESG goals. Our durable, reliable products and services meet standards and regulatory requirements like ISO 9001, 14001, 27001, 50001, 14064, ensuring long-term performance and cost savings. We prioritize ethical sourcing, supply chain transparency and hold EcoVadis ratings, expanding our Sedex membership, auditing key suppliers globally. Since 2020, we achieved carbon neutrality for Scope 1 and 2 emissions, using 100% renewable energy, and have cut emissions by 54% since 2018. We focus on resource efficiency through long-lasting design, recycled materials and recyclable consumables, more sustainable packaging, and more energy-saving solutions. The Company has reduced waste by 28% and landfill waste to 6%, with goals toward zero waste. Finally, our products are smartly designed, enabling easy repair and refurbishment, laying a foundation for the transition to a circular economy in the future.

Sustainability Product Features Explained

Discover our lab weighing solutions that can help your laboratory achieve sustainable practices without compromising accuracy or efficiency. Experience precision and reliability that support your commitment to a greener future.

Reduced exposure to hazardous materials

Lower emissions

Modular design

Less material use

Lower power consumption

More sustainable packaging

Less waste

Circularity

3 in 1 – Automatic Laboratory Scale

The XPR Automatic Balance is the solution to automation, enabling sustainable innovation. It is a highly accurate balance capable of automatically dispensing powders and liquids into various containers. Automation helps to use less material and produces less waste, which helps to decrease hazardous impact on the environment. Save time and improve upstream precision by integrating automated weighing into your lab workflow, supporting sustainable practices through increased efficiency: perfect for sample and standard preparation, bottling, or capsule filling. The automated weighing system increases user safety, saves time, and minimizes use of expensive and rare substances, thus less hazardous materials use. The modular design – the dosing modules, the sample changer – enables you to upgrade your analytical balance into automated liquid or powder dispensing systems, all while maintaining a compact footprint. The improved packaging of XPR balances uses 100% recycled paper and cardboard, over 96% recyclable materials, 99% recyclable EPP plastic foam, and focuses on single materials for easy recycling.

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Micro Weighing Solutions

The XPR Microbalances offer exceptional precision, capable of measuring up to 52 g with a readability of 6 decimal places, and up to 10 g with a readability of 7 decimal places. Accurate weighing is essential: even the smallest variation in sample weight can have significant consequences for compliance and impact further analysis. Selecting the microbalance allows you to reduce the sample size without compromising accuracy of the weighing to minimize waste, save costs and raise the standards of your laboratory operations. Moreover, when handling rare, valuable, toxic, or potent substances, precise measurement of small samples enhances safety for both the user and the environment, reducing the risks associated with hazardous waste disposal. The XPR microbalances have the smallest footprint on the market, and the main terminal can be placed away for your convenience. Improved packaging uses 100% recycled paper and cardboard, up to 50% recyclable materials, and focuses on single materials for easy recycling.

Mikrowaagen und Ultramikrowaagen

Advanced Weighing, Advanced Balances

Intelligently engineered with high-quality materials, MX and MR balances ensure durable and reliable performance. The robust balances with full metal housing, IP rating, and easy-to-clean surfaces, along with clever features, make your weighing effortless and accurate.

Cleverly designed functions and a continuous use of the balance can help to save up to 50% of energy: the configurable power-saving mode with power down and up times lowers the power consumption when the balance is not in use, e.g. overnight and at weekends. These features support sustainable values on a day-to-day basis. The MX and MR balances have been certified with the My Green Lab® ACT® Ecolabel, a certification that plays an important role in promoting transparency by providing clear, third-party verified sustainability data. To learn more, click here.

At METTLER TOLEDO, we are committed to continuously improving our packaging by reducing plastic use, incorporating recyclable Expanded Polypropylene (EPP), and minimizing the use of other recycled materials such as pulp and cardboard. For example, the MX balances packaging contains 90% recycled craft paper, resulting in a total sustainable content score of just over 60% (more details available in the ACT Ecolabel Database). We have incorporated recycled materials in some parts to minimize environmental impact. Additionally, the power-saving mode helps conserve energy, thereby reducing emissions and supporting environmental sustainability. Furthermore, we have eliminated printed user manuals and replaced them with a QR code on the balance, providing quick and easy access to the user manual online.Several initiatives, along with the group’s special programs, help avoid waste and close the loop in the manufacturing cycle by recovering materials for reuse and recycling, thereby supporting our contribution to circularity.

Trusted Moisture Analysis

Durability is at the core of the design, engineered for a long operational lifetime. The robust materials and stainless-steel components of halogen moisture analyzers facilitate easy cleaning, contributing to the instrument's sustained performance over time. This longevity is also supported by a globally available service network and extended availability of spare parts, ensuring that maintenance and repairs can be carried out efficiently anywhere in the world. Moreover, innovative technology like the QuickPredict™ function can predict the final moisture content after a few minutes, which could be 50-90% faster than any full measurement. It helps to reduce power consumption by enabling faster result predictions, enhancing overall energy efficiency. Compatible software solutions and interfaces support digitalization of labs. Environmental responsibility is further extended to the use of a minimum of 88% recycled aluminum to produce the recycled aluminum sample pans. Check how much greenhouse gas emission you can save with the recycled sample pans by calculating the CO₂eq savings, by clicking “Learn more” below.

We continuously strive to use more sustainable packaging, including recycled cardboard used for instrument protection during shipping.

My Green Lab® ACT® Ecolabel Certification plays an important role in showing transparency by providing clear, third-party verified sustainability data.

Digital and Compliant with LabX™

By leveraging digitalization, labs establish sustainable practices through the efficient use of resources and reduction of waste. Transitioning to a digital format, LabX minimizes human error, reduces paper consumption, and supports regulatory compliance, contributing to an environmentally responsible and resource-efficient laboratory environment.

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The My Green Lab^® ACT^®Ecolabel delivers transparent, product-level environmental data with third-party verification to support sustainability-driven decision-making and provide reliable information on environmental impact. The criteria required to qualify were developed with input from industry experts, scientists, sustainability and procurement professionals, and product manufacturers. The ACT label scoring covers environmental impacts throughout the life of the product, including: product manufacturing scale including content, chemicals concerns; user impact like power and water consumption, packaging, and much more.

Wägelösungen im Labor für mehr Nachhaltigkeit

Laboratory Weighing Donation Programs

METTLER TOLEDO is committed to sustainability and circular economy principles by extending the life of durable laboratory equipment, reducing electronic and material waste, and minimizing environmental impact. The Company supports global scientific communities, especially in underserved regions, by providing donated lab equipment through special programs in collaboration with Seeding Labs. The purpose is to empower researchers to conduct meaningful studies and foster innovation. Since 2023, over 150 pieces of equipment have been donated, including dozens of analytical and precision balances. Since 2003, Seeding Labs has revitalized scientific instruments and supplied worth over $61 million to 12 institutions across 42 developing countries, giving researchers the capacity to train a STEM-enabled workforce and to solve the problems they see locally, addressing challenges like diseases, drought, water quality.
More details are available at www.seedinglabs.org/news.

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FAQs

What are the most important sustainability features in a laboratory balance?

The most significant sustainability features in modern laboratory balances include energy-efficient power-saving modes, durable metal construction for longevity, and the use of recycled materials in components. Advanced instruments like the MX and MR balances feature configurable power-saving settings that can reduce energy consumption by up to 50% when the device is not in use. Furthermore, many moisture analyzers now utilize up to 88% recycled aluminum for their weighing pans, and packaging materials are increasingly made from recyclable pulp and cardboard and less single-use plastics.

How does the My Green Lab ACT Ecolabel help in choosing sustainable instruments?

The ACT Ecolabel provides third-party-verified data on the environmental impact of laboratory equipment, covering its manufacture, usage, and disposal. Standing for Accountability, Consistency, and Transparency, the ACT Ecolabel scores products based on energy and water consumption, the presence of chemicals of concern, and the product's expected lifetime. A lower ACT score indicates a lower environmental footprint, allowing procurement professionals to make evidence-based decisions that align with their facility's sustainability goals.

Why is microweighing considered a sustainable laboratory practice?

Microweighing is a fundamental green lab practice because it allows for high-precision results using significantly smaller sample sizes, which reduces chemical waste and the use of rare reagents. By utilizing micro and ultra-microbalances, laboratories can miniaturize their protocols, leading to a direct decrease in hazardous waste generation and the associated costs and risks of disposal. This approach also enhances user safety by minimizing the handling of potent or toxic substances.

Can automation in weighing support sustainability and contribute to a lab's ESG goals?

Yes, automation contributes to sustainability by optimizing reagent usage, preventing costly human errors that lead to experimental re-runs, and improving safety for lab personnel. Systems like the XPR Automatic Balance ensure that only the necessary amount of powder or liquid is dispensed, which directly lowers the environmental impact of chemical procurement and waste management. Additionally, automation software provides a digital audit trail, supporting the "Governance" aspect of ESG by ensuring data integrity and regulatory compliance without paper consumption.

What is the environmental impact of transitioning to digital data management with LabX?

Transitioning to digital systems like LabX eliminates the need for paper-based documentation, reduces human error, and optimizes the use of laboratory resources through real-time tracking. Digitalization minimizes the "physical footprint" of data storage and prevents the waste of reagents that occurs when experiments must be repeated due to lost or unreadable manual records. Furthermore, digital tools allow for better management of equipment lifecycles, ensuring that instruments are maintained and serviced to maximize their functional lifespan.

How does METTLER TOLEDO support the circular economy?

METTLER TOLEDO supports the circular economy through durable design, comprehensive global service networks for repair, and equipment donation programs that extend the life of scientific instruments. Smartly engineered products are designed for easy repair and refurbishment, and in selected countries, the company offers take-back programs to recover and recycle materials at the end of a product's life. Collaborations with some organizations also ensure that functional equipment is donated to researchers in developing regions, fostering global innovation while diverting e-waste from landfills.

Are there ways to save energy when using moisture analyzers?

Energy savings in moisture analysis can be achieved through predictive technology like QuickPredict™, which reduces heating time, and by performing routine maintenance to ensure peak thermal efficiency. Modern halogen moisture analyzers are also designed with smooth, easy-to-clean surfaces that facilitate sustained performance over time, preventing energy-intensive failures. Additionally, utilizing instruments with power-save capabilities ensures that the device is not drawing full power during periods of inactivity.

What is the role of more sustainable packaging in laboratory weighing solutions?

More sustainable packaging reduces the volume of single-use plastic and nonrecyclable materials used during shipment, focusing instead on recycled cardboard, pulp, and recyclable expanded polypropylene (EPP). Companies are increasingly minimizing their environmental footprint by incorporating recycled content into packaging and ensuring that the protection used for delicate instruments can be easily entered into common recycling streams. This shift also supports the goal of achieving zero-waste-to-landfill at manufacturing and customer sites.

What is the future of sustainable laboratory weighing?

The future involves deeper integration of AI for resource optimization, the universal adoption of Digital Product Passports (DPPs) and respective certifications for material traceability, and a shift toward regenerative practices that restore ecosystems rather than just reducing harm. As regulation moves from voluntary disclosure to mandatory compliance, the ability to provide high-quality, decision-grade ESG data for every instrument is expected to become the new industry standard.

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