Sustainable labs: what you need to know?
Laboratories are among the most resource-intensive spaces in the University. They consume over 60% of the University’s energy and associated carbon emissions, and are one of the five top contributors to scope 3 carbon emissions, accounting for 9% of the indirect emissions from the supply chain.
The Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF) provides a structured approach to improving sustainability in lab spaces while also saving an average of £3,700 and 3 tonnes of CO₂e per lab per year.
Get on top of new funding requirements
From 2025, Cancer Research UK (CRUK) will require all new wet-lab grant applications to have sustainability accreditation. Labs must achieve Silver-level LEAF certification or higher to maintain eligibility for new and continued funding. Certification can be obtained at a research group or building level and involves practical steps to improve efficiency in equipment use, ventilation, procurement, waste, and more.
Supporting your transition to LEAF
LEAF has already been successfully implemented at Oxford on a voluntary basis, and the University’s Environmental Sustainability (ES) Team is scaling up support to help researchers meet these new requirements. While many labs already follow good sustainability practices, certification will formalise these efforts and drive further improvements.
To learn more about how LEAF impacts your research, visit the Sustainable Labs webpage, linked below.