analytica 2026 spotlights sustainability in the laboratory

analytica 2026, the world’s leading trade fair for laboratory technology, analysis, and biotechnology, will take place in Munich from 24–27 March 2026, with sustainability firmly in the spotlight. The focus on the Green Lab will run through the trade fair, conference, and supporting program, showcasing innovations that make everyday lab work more resource-efficient and environmentally friendly.

Visitors can expect to see new analytical devices, less toxic chemicals, and AI-driven workflows designed to reduce energy and consumable use. “Analytica sees itself as a guide to the Green Lab,” said Exhibition Director Susanne Grödl, highlighting the fair’s commitment to sustainable lab practices.

Among the innovations on display are Plasmion’s ‘electronic noses’, which use advanced mass spectrometry ionisation to detect trace pollutants without time-consuming sample prep, cutting chemical usage. Supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC), which uses liquid CO₂ as a mobile phase, also reduces solvent and energy consumption — with major suppliers such as Agilent, Knauer, PerkinElmer, Shimadzu, Thermo Fisher, and Waters participating.

Miniaturisation and 3D printing will be key themes at the conference sessions, from microfluidic HPLC chips to the solar-powered 3D-printed laboratory system 2LabsToGo-Eco, combining chromatography and bioassays.

Sustainability extends beyond instruments: digitalisation and AI are helping labs optimise workflows, reduce redundant measurements, and save energy. Exhibitors such as Eppendorf, Integra, and Omnilab are already incorporating biobased plastics into consumables, further reducing environmental impact.

“The Green Lab becomes reality when measures in the most diverse areas work in synergy,” says Grödl. “At analytica, we bring together the entire value chain to set these processes in motion.”

More information online