Our Sustainable laboratories report reveals the challenges scientists face in making the way we do science more sustainable.
The links in the table below highlight some resources from around the world: you'll find communities, tools and guidelines to help make the work in your lab more environmentally sustainable.
What would you like to know about sustainable labs?
Use the links in the table below to find resources, communities, tools and guidelines to help make the work in your lab more environmentally sustainable.
| Tools | Description |
|---|---|
| Code Carbon | Open source software, compatible with Python, that tracks emissions associated with code execution. |
| GES 1point5 | An open source web application that enables research laboratories to calculate their carbon footprint along a standardised, open protocol for French public research. |
| Green Algorithms | A free-to-use research carbon accounting tool. |
| Initiatives | Description |
| Beyond Benign | Develops and disseminates green chemistry and sustainable science educational resources that empower educators, students and the community to practice sustainability through chemistry. |
| Green Impact | A framework developed by the UK’s National Union of Students (NUS) for organisations to be environmentally and socially sustainable. It supports teams to embed the university’s or college’s sustainability strategy into everyday practices, and provides online toolkits, monitoring and awards. |
| International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories (I2SL) | Engages members on lab sustainability and signposts tips, resources and provides benchmarking too. It has adopted Laboratories for the 21st Century (Labs21), a former joint venture between the US Environmental Protection Agency and US Department of Energy. |
| Labconscious | An open resource and blog for the life science community to reduce laboratory waste, use green chemistry, conserve water and save energy. |
| LEAF | The Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework is a sector-wide framework developed at University College London to help improve sustainability and efficiency of laboratories including tools and standards for sustainable laboratory operations. |
| My Green Lab® | Resources to embed laboratory sustainability best practices including laboratory sustainability certification and signposting ways to reduce the environmental impact of laboratory processes. My Green Lab also supports the International Laboratory Freezer Challenge and ACT Environmental Impact Factor Label for laboratory products. |
| s-Lab | Primarily funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, this not-for-profit initiative is aimed at facilities, technical support and managers in laboratories. It supports improvements in the efficiency and effectiveness of laboratories, especially in universities and research institutes. |
| UNIDO Green Chemistry | A global green chemistry project from the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and partners to increase global awareness and deploy green chemistry approaches and technologies. One of its main outputs is the Green Chemistry Guidance Document and Technology Compendium. |
| Examples of national programmes | |
| Networks and forums | Description |
| International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN) | ISCN aims to provide an international forum to support higher education institutions in the exchange of information, ideas, and best practices to achieve sustainable campus operations and to integrate sustainability in research and teaching. It awards ISCN Sustainable Campus Excellence Awards in three categories: Whole Systems Approach; Partnerships for Progress; and Cultural Change for Sustainability. |
| LEAN | Laboratory Efficiency Action Network brings together members that work within laboratories or sustainability departments in publicly funded institutions. |
| Max Plank Sustainability Network | A grass roots initiative within the Max Plank Society bringing together scientists, and technical and administrative personnel to improve cooperation and to develop less resource intensive scientific and day-to-day practice. |
