Sustainability is a key goal for the University of Bath, and within this context all of MC² laboratories have recently attained the bronze award within LEAF, the Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework started by University College London (UCL).

In order to meet the necessary standard the laboratories had to demonstrate how they had optimised waste disposal, minimised energy usage and provided inductions to members joining the team so that the most sustainable practises possible were followed. By setting standards to maximise the efficiency of communication and sharing of resources, and by providing guidelines to users about how they can recycle items and save energy, it is possible to calculably lower the carbon footprint produced the department. For example, many of you may have noticed stickers appearing on lab equipment and computers asking to turn off the monitor when not in use. Each laboratory is then audited.

Now that all of our laboratories have been awarded the bronze level of LEAF, we will next try to attain the silver award. This is part of a wider initiative within the Climate Action Framework of ensuring all the laboratories across the University as efficient and green as possible without compromising the functionality needed to make a positive impact with research.