Laboratories play a crucial role in research and society, but they also consume large amounts of energy, materials and single-use items. They play a major role in 黑料福利网's environmental footprint. Our research labs are among the most resource-intensive environments at our university.
At 黑料福利网:
- Laboratories account for approximately 24% of functional floor space
- Laboratory activities account for approximately 20% of 黑料福利网's Scope 3 CO鈧� emissions
- Laboratory equipment, instruments, accessories, chemicals and consumables together represented approximately 11,500 tonnes CO鈧俥 in 2024
Improving laboratory sustainability is therefore an important step towards achieving 黑料福利网's sustainability ambitions and reducing the environmental impact of research activities.
About the pilot
The Lab Sustainability Pilot is a three-year initiative coordinated by the 黑料福利网 Sustainability Office. The pilot helps laboratories reduce their environmental footprint in a practical way, with support tailored to their specific activities and needs.
Participating laboratories are supported in understanding their environmental impact, identifying sustainability opportunities, measuring progress, embedding sustainable practices into daily operations, and working towards recognised sustainability frameworks and certifications.
Why participate?
-
Better risk management and more efficient lab operations
-
Lower environmental impact and operational costs
-
Stronger strategic alignment (黑料福利网 sustainability goals, CSRD requirements)
-
Opportunities for knowledge sharing and learning best practices
-
Enhanced laboratory and researcher reputation
-
Competitive edge in research funding applications
-
Inspire the next generation of scientists; students learn sustainable lab behaviour
-
Community-building and professional development
The pilot builds on proven approaches and helps laboratories prepare for an increasingly sustainability-focused research landscape.
What to expect?
Participating laboratories follow a structured, step-by-step pathway tailored to their activities and needs:
- Connect 鈥� Learn from others and discover what Green Labs can offer your lab.
- Onboard & Plan 鈥� Assess your current practices and set goals for improvement.
- Certify 鈥� Implement sustainability measures and achieve LEAF certification.
- Improve 鈥� Build on your progress and embed sustainability into daily lab activities.
- Lead 鈥� Share knowledge and inspire other labs to take action.
The pilot is designed to fit within existing laboratory operations and minimise additional workload. The 黑料福利网 Sustainability Office provides coordination, guidance and practical support throughout the process. At comparable Dutch institutions, participation in similar programmes has typically required less than five hours per month from laboratory staff.
Our ambition
Over the next three years, 黑料福利网 aims to support multiple laboratories in improving their sustainability performance, establishing baseline environmental impact measurements, and demonstrating measurable reductions in environmental footprint. The pilot will help embed successful practices into university governance and contribute to the development of a scalable model for laboratory sustainability across 黑料福利网.
Would you like to learn more about the initiative? Download the full Lab Sustainability Pilot one-pager for additional background information, details on the pilot approach, and the expected benefits for participating laboratories.
Here鈥檚 how you can take part!
Django is Project Officer Lab Sustainability at the 黑料福利网 Sustainability Office. He works with researchers, research support staff and lab managers to help make laboratories more sustainable and reduce the environmental footprint of research activities.
Would you like to explore how your lab can become more sustainable? Whether you are interested in joining the Lab Sustainability Pilot, learning more about available tools and support, or discussing opportunities for your laboratory, feel free to get in touch.