Certified reference materials (CRMs) are the unsung heroes of analytical testing. They provide a comparability benchmark that ensures lab accuracy, precision, and repeatability. Yet, as with many aspects of modern industry, CRMs have an environmental toll. Packaging is an issue and an often overlooked contributor to waste generation.i
Certified reference materials are indispensable for instrument calibration and method validation. Hence, it's difficult for users to mitigate the environmental costs of CRM packaging without also compromising their results. This—of course—is a non-option. Instead, the burden of reducing the ecological implications of CRMs should lie with the manufacturer.
How are CRMs Packaged?
Before exploring the steps man