Out of Control

This supply situation is getting out of control.  One would think that in today's economy sponsors would be more mindful of how their resources are allocated to save time and money.  Apparently, that has been completely overlooked as far as supplying the sites with variety laboratory things.  For example sites are often issued lab specific shipping boxes, bags, and gel packs (to function as a coolant in warm environments or serve as a temperature buffer in temperate climates).  However most sites never use all of these supplies and are left with a ridiculous surplus that the labs will not accept as a returned item.  Because research sites vary greatly in terms of storage space, many of these surplus items are simply discarded and, likely, rarely recycled.  This is a travesty and waste of resources, both human and environmental.  How can this be fixed?  Let me propose a few options:

-Prior to study initiation, the lab contacts the site and inquires on the site's current inventory of shipping boxes, basic phlebotomy supplies, gel packs, etc.  If the supply is sufficient, the lab will refrain from sending supplies to the site until the site actually runs low and asks for them.

-At the conclusion of a study, the lab offers a research site the option to return unused supplies such as unopened lab kits, boxes, etc.  These could be recycled to other studies or destroyed if they are expired.

-Central laboratories should perhaps consider one standard shipping box instead of lab specific boxes, pre-labeled with the lab's information.  The only information really necessary on the box is the appropriate IATA transport stickers/notifiers and a study specific airbill.  Such continuity would likely decrease the amount of shipping waste by eliminating the need for a "special" shipping box just because one lab requires it.

I don't know why this issue hasn't been addressed yet, but it seems like that each lab doesn't know that a research site is likely working with that lab on multiple studies.  It's not really a novel concept considering that many commercial sites are conducting multiple studies at the same time, but it's about time that the people in charge of the labs take initiative to reduce this unnecessary expenditure of resources.