Asbestos laboratory in Kryvyi Rih

We are also actively seeking support for the completion of Ukraine’s first asbestos testing laboratory in Kryvyi Rih (Dnipropetrovsk region). This initiative, via the Ukrainian charitable foundation EcoLab, represents a critical step in advancing Ukraine’s safe reconstruction and environmental health infrastructure. Further details are available in our recent LinkedIn post: https://lnkd.in/p/ezyMAmPv.

The asbestos laboratory has been designed to:

• Provide specialized analysis and certification for asbestos-containing materials (ACMs), essential for safe demolition, waste management, and reconstruction activities
• Meet EU-aligned technical and accreditation standards, facilitating compliance with international regulations and supporting Ukraine’s integration into the European Union
• Protect public health and the environment by enabling precise, rapid identification of hazardous materials
• Serve both public and private sectors, offering accredited testing services to municipalities, contractors, and regulatory authorities

Your organization’s contribution to this initiative will deliver tangible, high-impact outcomes aligned with international donor priorities:

• Public health protection: Reducing asbestos exposure risks for workers and communities through reliable testing and certification systems.

• Support for sustainable reconstruction: Ensuring that recovery and rebuilding efforts across Ukraine are conducted safely and in full compliance with EU environmental and occupational standards.

• Advancement of EU integration and governance reforms: Strengthening Ukraine’s institutional capacity to implement EU-aligned environmental monitoring and risk management frameworks.

• Capacity building and technology transfer: Developing national expertise in advanced material analysis through training and knowledge exchange with leading European laboratories.

• Long-term sustainability: The laboratory will operate on a cost-recovery model, providing accredited services that ensure its continued operation and financial independence beyond initial donor support.

• Contribution to SDG Goals 3 and 11: ( SDG 3.9 By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination and SDG 11.6 By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management

• Visibility and international partnership recognition: Contributors will be acknowledged as key partners in establishing a first-in-class facility that directly advances Ukraine’s environmental resilience and public health infrastructure, including via UNEP’s asbestos working group

To date, we have secured funding from major donors, including the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). To bring the laboratory to full operational and certification readiness, we are now seeking €392,000 in additional funding for the acquisition of:

• Scanning electron microscope (SEM 20KeV) for high-resolution asbestos fiber analysis

• A carbon coating system required for sample preparation prior to SEM imaging

• Training and Travel

• Procurement of additional specialized laboratory equipment and furniture

• Public training and awareness programmes to provide training sessions on asbestos hazards, safe handling, and waste testing for sorting and recycling