Sustainable Labs

At the University of Leeds, we are committed to integrating sustainability across education, research, and operations. We have outstanding facilities that allow research to thrive. However, laboratory activity consumes around 5-10 times more energy per square meter than typical academic spaces.

As places of innovation and discovery, our laboratories play a key role in embedding sustainability across the whole institution. But there’s a real need – and opportunity – to tackle this and reduce the negative environmental effects of laboratories on campus and beyond.

We use LEAF,  a tool developed by University College London, to help researchers, staff and students understand and improve the sustainability and efficiency of their laboratories.

LEAF contains criteria that lab users can implement around areas such as waste & recycling, equipment management, procurement, and more. The criteria are based on actions that have already been proven to work in other laboratories. A key feature of LEAF is that it allows you to quantify your impact in both financial and carbon savings.

LEAF is intended for anyone working in any of our labs, including NHS areas. It is ideal for technical staff, lab management, PhDs and post-docs with an interest in sustainability, or anyone working around laboratories.

If you would like to sign your lab up to LEAF, please sign up via our form.