LEAF - A New Approach to Achieving Laboratory Sustainability

Laboratories are extremely energy and resource intensive (they typically will consume 3-10 times more energy than typical non-lab areas). After having piloted a new tool for 2 years across the UK, Sustainable UCL has now made LEAF available online.

What is LEAF?

Developed by Sustainable UCL, LEAF contains actions which lab users can take to save plastics, water, energy and other resources. By taking part in the programme, laboratories will 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. Optionally, laboratories may estimate the impact of their actions in both carbon and financial terms, using LEAF’s inbuilt calculators.

Why LEAF?

Some key features of LEAF for users include:

• A user-friendly online interface which may be easily scaled
• Calculators to estimate impact in terms of carbon and financial savings
• Being a user-led initiative
• Criteria on research quality, as supported by the UK Reproducibility Network in recognition that  reproducible research is sustainable research.
• Being supported by the National Technician Development Centre (NTDC)
• Expert resources such as:
  • Technical guides
  • Case studies
  • Supporting documentation

Prior to launching online, LEAF was piloted across 23 different institutions in over 230 laboratory groups. On average each group reported 2.9 tCO2e avoided and £3,700 of saved. In total we estimate that £641,000 was saved, and 648 tCO2e were avoided, the equivalent to 140 passenger vehicles off the road in a year.

For further information on how to get involved contact LEAF.

You may also visit the LEAF page here