It’s a question you may not have considered, but a growing number of outsourced cell line QC providers are sending samples overseas. At a time when global logistics are increasingly complex and sustainability is becoming an increasingly important consideration, this “standard” process is generating unnecessary carbon emissions and sending critical biological material abroad is increasingly difficult to justify.
Beyond the environmental impact, sending critical biological material abroad introduces avoidable risks. Today, many UK universities and research institutions are actively tracking Scope 3 emissions, which include those generated throughout the supply chain, procurement, and logistics. Localising your testing isn’t just a logistical preference; it’s a strategic step toward institutional sustainability.
Why transport matters
While the biological material itself may be extremely small and submitted for testing via FTA cards, small cell pellets (20μl) or 1-1.5ml of culture media, carbon emissions from shipping are not calculated based on the biological sample weight alone. The volume of carbon emitted is based on the parcel weight and distance travelled, and even the smallest samples can require packaging such as absorbent materials and primary/secondary containers.
Beyond that, international shipments typically involve multiple transport stages:
- Courier collection from research institution
- Transport to an airport
- Air freight to the destination country
- Import processing and handling
- Final delivery to the testing facility
This contrasts to domestic logistics, which involves courier collection and road delivery directly to the testing laboratory. The key difference lies in air freight, which can be up to 10x more carbon-intensive than domestic road transport.
When multiplied over the course of a year, the regular use of international logistics can become a significant contributor to a university’s Scope 3 emissions profile. For research institutions looking to reduce their environmental impact, localising cell line QC is one of the simplest ways to decarbonise research operations.
Additional challenges
Shipping cell lines internationally for QC comes with logistical challenges that can slow down research timelines. Customs delays are a key concern as biological materials are often subject to stringent import inspections and complex documentation requirements and if samples are held at a border, the risk of temperature changes increases significantly, potentially compromising the integrity of cell pellets or media.
By keeping samples within the UK, you bypass this friction, ensure a more predictable “chain of custody” and reduce the risk of samples being lost or degraded.
Aligning with funding and Net Zero strategies
Funders and institutional investors increasingly expect credible plans for decarbonising research activities, including supply chains and outsourced services.
For laboratories aiming to hit Net Zero and Scope 3 targets, choosing domestic cell line QC is no longer just about “doing the right thing.” By localising sample logistics, researchers can demonstrate that lab-level decisions are actively aligned with institutional sustainability strategies and the evolving requirements of green-focused grants.
Domestic QC, global standards
By outsourcing cell line QC to a UK-based partner, you can greatly reduce shipping emissions, supporting your sustainability targets without slowing down your discovery.
At Biofortuna, we provide quality cell line QC services from our Deeside-based laboratory, so that researchers can maintain data integrity, validity and reproducibility without sending samples overseas. Our comprehensive range of QC testing services are designed to provide complete confidence in your models, including:
- cell line authentication,
- sterility testing,
- mycoplasma detection,
- intra-species contamination,
- speciation by CO1 barcoding and
- viral screening.
By keeping your samples on British soil, you can reduce international shipping, avoid air freight, shorten supply chains and significantly reduce transport-related emissions. Our services remove logistical risk, saving valuable time with simple ordering, convenient sample collection and prompt reporting within as little as 3 working days, so you can reap the benefits of:
- Sustainability: Reduced carbon footprint by reducing long-haul international shipping, helping you achieve Scope 3 objectives.
- Reliability: No customs or international transit risks.
- Convenience: Simple ordering and ambient collection.
- Transparency: You know exactly who is handling your samples and exactly where your data is stored.
Moreover, we are ISO 14001:2015 compliant, which demonstrates our commitment to an effective Environmental Management System (EMS). This certification ensures that our own internal processes, from waste management to energy consumption, are rigorously reviewed to meet environmental standards. For our partners, this provides assurance that your QC provider is as committed to sustainability as you are.
Accelerate your research, minimise your footprint
Achieving Net Zero doesn’t have to mean compromising on turnaround times or data quality. By localising your cell line QC and outsourcing to Biofortuna you are taking a step toward your Scope 3 objectives while creating a more resilient research model.
To learn more about our UK-based cell line QC services and how they can help you achieve your Scope 3 objectives, get in touch with our expert team today.
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