The JP Selecta commitment to sustainability
— Equipo JP Selecta
J.P. Selecta, a European manufacturer of laboratory equipment since 1947 with its headquarters in Abrera (Barcelona), integrates environmental management into the design, manufacture and technical service of its more than 1,400 products. Through an Environmental Management System implemented in accordance with the ISO 14001:2015 standard, the company steers its production towards sustainable development, preventing pollution, minimising the ecological impact of its activity and encouraging the efficient use of natural resources throughout the entire life cycle of the equipment.
Sustainability matters in the laboratory
The scientific and analytical sector is at a turning point where the ecological footprint of technical activity is taking on unprecedented importance. According to figures from the Green and Sustainable Laboratories guide published by the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM), laboratories consume between 3 and 6 times more energy per square metre than a conventional office building.
This high energy use is a result of the uninterrupted operation of air conditioning systems, air flow, storage cabinets and sterilisation or analysis equipment.
At institutional level, the European Union is promoting this transition through the European Green Deal and the framework of the United Nations 2030 Agenda, setting stricter requirements regarding ESG criteria (environmental, social and governance) for the scientific and instrumentation industry.
In this context, initiatives such as My Green Lab or the EFLM's European network of sustainable laboratories are defining benchmark standards that assess both the operational consumption of facilities and the carbon footprint of the equipment they purchase. Naturally, over our long history we have learned how our activity can affect the environment, and that is why we put measures in place to keep our environmental impact to a minimum.
How do we commit to sustainability from the design and manufacture of our equipment?
To respond to these challenges, sustainability must be an engineering criterion built in from the earliest stages of product design.
- Durable, low-impact materials
The environmental impact of a piece of equipment is closely linked to its service life. J.P. Selecta gives priority to using materials with maximum durability and recyclability, such as AISI 304 stainless steel for external structures and AISI 316L stainless steel for the internal chambers of autoclaves, ovens and thermostatic baths. These materials stand out for their high resistance to corrosion and aggressive chemical agents, guaranteeing decades of operational use and preventing premature obsolescence.
- Local manufacturing in Europe
J.P. Selecta's production is centralised in its facilities of more than 20,000 m² in Abrera (Barcelona). Designing, manufacturing and assembling in Europe significantly reduces transport distances and the carbon footprint associated with international logistics compared with the mass importing of equipment produced outside the continent.
- In-house technical service and repairability
Favouring repair over replacement is one of the pillars of the circular economy. Our own network of 12 official technical service centres in Spain offers a response time of under 48 hours on the Spanish mainland and guarantees the availability of original spare parts throughout the service life of the equipment, which minimises the generation of electronic waste (WEEE).
- Certifications and our own environmental policies
Within its environmental policy, J.P. Selecta sets measurable indicators for the continuous reduction of water and energy consumption at the plant, the optimisation of metal and industrial waste recycling, and the periodic assessment of ecological performance.
Sustainability and regulatory compliance
In the scientific and pharmaceutical industry, sustainability is inseparable from precision and quality. Equipment designed under international standards such as GMP, FDA 21 CFR Part 11, ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 (for medical devices) brings an indirect ecological value of great impact: process reproducibility.
Proper process qualification and validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) ensures that sterilisation, drying or incubation tests are carried out correctly first time. This avoids repeating failed tests, directly reducing the waste of chemical reagents, culture media and disposable plastic consumables, as well as unnecessary electricity consumption at the customer's facilities.
Frequently asked questions
- Does JP Selecta hold ISO 14001 environmental management certification?
Yes, J.P. Selecta has an Environmental Management System implemented and certified in accordance with the international standard ISO 14001:2015, covering the design, production, marketing and after-sales service of laboratory equipment under sustainable development commitments.
- Does JP Selecta equipment help reduce laboratory energy consumption?
Yes. By incorporating high-efficiency thermal insulation, low-consumption heating elements (such as Incoloy heaters) and microprocessor programmers with cycle optimisation modes, heat loss and electricity consumption during prolonged operation are minimised.
- What materials does JP Selecta use in its equipment? Are they recyclable?
Mainly AISI 304 and AISI 316L stainless steel alloys, noble metals and standardised electronic components are used. These materials stand out for their high recyclability rate at the end of the product's life cycle.
- Does JP Selecta offer a repair service to extend the service life of equipment?
Yes, J.P. Selecta has its own technical service network with a response time of under 48 hours on the Spanish mainland and guaranteed long-term supply of original spare parts, promoting the upkeep of equipment and avoiding its premature replacement.