LEAF is a standard set by UCL to improve the sustainability and efficiency of laboratories. Currently there are 85 institutions taking part in this initiative. We have recently submitted two of our labs in a pilot to the scheme and both have received bronze awards. Following this success we will now roll out this initiative across the whole School.
On their website UCL states that “Laboratory-based research is essential for advancing society but it is also extremely energy and resource intensive. It’s estimated that laboratories are responsible for around 2% of global plastic waste and use 3-10 times more energy per meter squared than a typical office.”
The aim is that by joining the LEAF programme, our labs will reduce their carbon emissions and create an environment that supports research quality.
Within CMBE, we're deeply committed to sustainability, both in the research itself and the way we conduct it. The LEAF framework provides a fantastic structure to help us minimise our environmental impact in the lab, and I'm thrilled with the rapid success of our pilot labs, achieving Bronze status so quickly. A huge congratulations to Xinyue and Mabrouka for their fantastic work. Building on this success, we're now rolling out LEAF across the entire School, empowering all our lab teams to contribute to a more sustainable future for research."
Dr Robbie Oliver
Head of Sustainability in the School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering (CMBE)
The two labs which took part in the pilot were the Royce Nanocharacterisation Laboratory and the mRNA Manufacturing Laboratory.
Both labs received positive feedback on their current practices with commendations on their recycling practices and moving to glassware which can be reused (when appropriate). Other practices included: considering the full lifecycle of any materials purchased; developing full chemical and sample inventories to reduce unnecessary duplication and founding sustainability subgroups to continuously monitor and improve their work in this area.
Royce Nanocharacterisation Laboratory
This state-of-the-art open facility, managed by Dr Xinyue Chen, offers exceptional precision in nanoscale characterisation of various physical properties. Equipped with advanced atomic force microscopes, nanoindenters, and optical profilers, it supports a broad spectrum of scientific research — from solid metals and energy materials to soft hydrogels and single molecules. As the academic lead of the facility, Professor Alice Pyne and her team conduct groundbreaking research in the nanocharacterisation lab, investigating how variations in DNA structure impact fundamental biological processes such as replication and transcription. Their research is motivated by determining biomolecular mechanisms of action, with a long-term view to improving the development of therapeutics.
RNA Manufacturing Laboratory
The mRNA Manufacturing Innovation Lab, managed by Dr Mabrouka Maamra, is dedicated to advancing the production of mRNA-based vaccines and therapeutics. The research team, led by Dr. Zoltan Kis at the University of Sheffield, focuses on optimising the entire manufacturing process—from enzymatic synthesis of the active ingredient (drug substance) to purification and formulation for human use (drug product). A key objective is to make RNA vaccines and therapeutics accessible worldwide by developing the 'RNAbox'—one-stop-shop automated solution for the scalable production of high-quality RNA vaccines and therapeutics at low cost to combat a wide range of diseases. This concomitantly supports sustainability and equitable worldwide access to health.