Teaching labs within the School of Natural Sciences have achieved Bronze accreditation under the Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF) as a result of the practical steps they have taken to make their teaching laboratories more sustainable.
Laboratories are widely recognised as places of scientific breakthroughs and, for trainee scientists, are a major aspect of University life. But data suggests that ‘labs’ use approximately 5-10 times more energy than typical non-lab areas and are estimated to be responsible for around 2% of global plastics waste.
Kent’s Bronze LEAF accreditation for its Biosciences and Chemistry and Forensic Science teaching labs reflects their efforts to reduce this waste and become more sustainable. Guided by the Health, Safety and Environmental Sustainability (HSES) team, they have made improvements to how they manage waste, chemicals, equipment and ventilation in the lab, actions that have led to them exceeding the minimum Bronze criteria.
Phil Marsh, Head of Technical Services, said on behalf of the Chemistry and Forensics team: ‘The process itself for the Bronze LEAF accreditation was far less daunting than we expected, mainly because much of the foundation was already in place and the steps we took to close the gaps were practical and achievable — especially with so much supporting material provided. It’s a process any lab can take on, and the benefits to sustainability and team engagement make it well worth the effort.’
The internationally recognised LEAF scheme was developed by University College London (UCL) in 2018 to make university labs more sustainable. Since its launch, it has become the largest green lab certification programme globally, helping research and teaching labs reduce their environmental impact, improve safety, and save money. It is so well respected that it is increasingly becoming a requirement for research funding applications to organisations such as the Wellcome Trust and Cancer Research UK.
Achieving LEAF accreditation will therefore increase Kent’s chances of securing future research funding whilst making labs safer, more efficient and sustainable. Progress towards Silver accreditation is already under way and, as a key part of the University’s sustainability strategy, Gold is firmly on the horizon.