Blizard laboratories achieve Bronze for sustainability
LEAF is a standard set up by University College London (UCL) to improve the sustainability and efficiency of laboratories.
Aerial view of the Blizard Institute open-plan research labs
We are very pleased to announce that several of our laboratories at the Blizard Institute have either achieved or retained their Bronze award for sustainability in the Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF).
Abernethy teaching labs
The Abernethy teaching labs, a purpose-built teaching laboratory based on a routine clinical microbiology laboratory and used for practical classes for our masters students, received the bronze award for the first time in this year's audit.
Jamie Roberts was the lead for making sustainability changes and presenting the submission, supported by colleagues from the Centre for Immunobiology. The Blizard Education Committee congratulate Jamie for this excellent achievement (Mary, Kristin, Joanna, Nawaz, Rachael, Olivier, Ping, Daniele and Jurgen).
Alazawi Group lab
The Alazawi group works on liver disease, aiming to understand the mechanisms underlying the progression of Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly known as NAFLD. After addressing all 16 criteria, they submitted easily online and were audited by a member of the LEAF programme to confirm, and they successfully achieved the Bronze award.
Dr Patricia Garrido from the Alazawi Group said: "We know the importance of sustainability in every aspect of our lives. We started addressing the Bronze criteria, many of which we were already doing and were successful in our submittion. The LEAF system is very simple, and with a few small changes you can get the bronze award. This has given us the motivation to go ahead and go for the silver. All for a better future!"
Blizard research labs
The Blizard Institute research labs, overseen by the Blizard Laboratory Management team, also retained their Bronze award. The team re-submitted for Bronze this year after many changes to the team meant that they were comprised of almost entirely new staff. This confirms the team's commitment to sustainability and the successful continuity of the team as a whole. Congratulations to the whole team and everyone involved in the resubmission.
The need for sustainability in the laboratory
Laboratory-based research is essential for advancing society but it is also extremely energy and resource intensive. It’s estimated that laboratories are responsible for around 2 per cent of global plastic waste and use 3-10 times more energy per metre squared than a typical office.
By joining the LEAF programme, laboratories reduce their carbon emissions and create an environment that supports research quality.
Laboratories are awarded either a Bronze, Silver, or Gold level depending on how many sustainability actions they take.
The LEAF programme comprises four elements:
- The Framework: An online tool that guides users through sustainability actions to save plastics, water, energy and other resources in their laboratory.
- Online calculators: To help measure financial and carbon impact. You can estimate how sustainable your lab is now and track improvements.
- Toolkit and Resources: From guides to sustainable lab equipment and consumables to induction and exit procedures.
- User Engagement & Training: We offer each institution a tailored workshop to engage laboratory staff and students on sustainable science, and to introduce LEAF.