In under two years, the University of Michigan's Lab Swap Shop has surpassed $1 million in savings for researchers, giving new life to surplus laboratory equipment and supplies while advancing research efficiency and campus sustainability goals-by keeping thousands of usable lab items circulating across Central Campus labs instead of entering the waste stream.
Launched in June 2024 as an expansion of the long-standing Lab Reuse Program, the Lab Swap Shop enables researchers from across the Ann Arbor campus to browse and take preowned lab consumables and equipment at no cost. What began as a pilot reuse strategy has quickly grown into a high-impact resource for the research community and a key contributor to campuswide waste-reduction efforts.
The program officially crossed the $1 million mark in avoided research costs in mid-January; a milestone reached through steady participation and growing demand from labs across campus.
"Reaching more than a million dollars in avoided costs is an incredible testament to the culture of collaboration and stewardship among U-M researchers," said Alexandria Galens, program coordinator for sustainable labs. "Every reused item represents money that can be redirected back into research-and materials that stay out of the landfill."
Since opening, the Swap Shop has:
- Saved researchers more than $1 million in equipment and supply costs
- Diverted 20,000 pounds of lab materials from disposal
- Served more than a thousand researchers and lab staff from across campus
Together, those reused materials represent a substantial volume redirected from the waste stream and returned to active research use.
Operated by the Office of Campus Sustainability in partnership with Environment, Health & Safety and the Literature, Science, and the Arts Sustainability, the Swap Shop builds on the Door-to-Door delivery program and annual lab swap events, which redistribute surplus chemicals, equipment and materials safely and efficiently. Data consistently show that providing researchers a space to browse and take reusable lab items dramatically increases participation, waste diversion and cost savings compared with online-only exchanges.
Participation spans academic and research units across campus, including contributions from clinical research labs, with future growth opportunities tied to improving access for researchers based outside Central Campus.
LSA has played a central role in the program's success, serving as both an early partner and one of the most active user groups. Departments including Chemistry, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and Earth and Environmental Science were among the program's top early participants, helping demonstrate how reuse can support research operations, laboratory safety and space efficiency at scale.
The program reflects U-M's broader operational sustainability and waste goals. Across campus, OCS tracks progress toward reducing waste sent to landfills and aligning reuse efforts with the university's commitment to climate action and resource stewardship.
"The Swap Shop exemplifies how creative, operational sustainability solutions can advance both research and waste-reduction goals," said Rosario Ceballo, dean of the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. "Our labs are more efficient, safer and more connected because of this innovative program-and its impact continues to grow."
The shop has become especially popular among high-volume research units, including departments where lab-intensive work generates both opportunity and need for reuse. Beyond financial savings, the program supports safer, more organized labs and helps advance the university's broader sustainability objectives.
Building on strong demand and campuswide participation, the university is exploring options for a future Lab Swap Shop expansion at the North Campus Research Complex to improve access for researchers based outside Central Campus.
"The Lab Swap Shop has been instrumental in helping our lab transition toward reusable glass serologicals, reducing our reliance on single-use plastics," said Wynter Kell Carnahan, research lab specialist intermediate in the Wobus Lab in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. "Being able to experiment with more sustainable options at no cost made it possible for us to change our practices and to pass along items we no longer need so other labs can use them."
"It is inspiring to see the tangible impact of this program over two short years, and such a clear example of how creative community-building around material reuse can help support the university's research mission," said Shana Weber, U-M associate vice president for campus sustainability.
To celebrate this milestone, the Lab Swap Shop team will host a "Million Dollar Party" 1-3 p.m. Feb. 26 at the Swap Shop's location in the 1100 North University Building.
