Laboratories are among the most resource-intensive spaces in any industry. For example, labs can use up to 3-10 times more energy per square metre than standard office spaces (UCL and My Green Lab, 2025).

Sustainability is everyone's responsibility, and reaching these goals requires input at all levels. Actions such as rinsing items, waste disposal, experimental design, and purchasing all contribute to a spaces' carbon footprint. Collective efforts are crucial for minimising this footprint, working efficiently, and conserving resources.

Sustainable Labs at the University of Exeter

Sustainability is a core element of the University’s Strategy 2030. The University is committed to leading meaningful action against the climate emergency and ecological crisis. Our sustainability targets are integrated into our work at Sustainable Labs.

Sustainable Labs aim to help lab users work more sustainably and support and guide users towards green accreditation. By keeping up to date with Sustainable Labs and working towards or maintaining green accreditations, you are helping achieve these sustainability goals. Below outlines the background that feeds into Sustainable Labs at UoE and how we are continuing to adapt and lead in lab sustainability, in an ever-changing world.

Net zero by 2030 & Concordat

In May 2019, UoE declared an Environment and Climate Emergency. A working group, led by Prof. Juliet Osborne, developed an E&CE White Paper outlining targets and actions to reduce the university's environmental impact. The E&CE Policy Statement was then released, setting key targets for all university activities, including 100% green lab accreditation for all lab spaces. In October 2024, UoE signed an environmental sustainability concordat, co-developed by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). This concordat recognises the need to change how we conduct research and innovation and to take shared action to reduce our environmental impact.

Exe-Tech Strategy 2030

At the start of 2024, Technical Services & Operations launched the Exe-Tech Strategy 2030. This strategy builds on our foundations across the University to deliver expertise, equipment, facilities, and spaces that optimise the power of our education and research through adaptable and sustainable technical capability and capacity. Object 4 shows how we are contributing to university net zero targets with sector-leading lab sustainability. In December 2024: The Exe-Tech Strategy produced their first annual report available through the Technical Strategy & Operations site, detailing the progress and success in lab sustainability.

Green Accreditations

In February 2021, UoE launched the Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF) for lab spaces across the university. By March 2022, all applicable lab spaces achieved LEAF certification, making the UoE the second higher education institution in the LEAF programme to reach this 100% milestone. In 2025, LEAF developers from UCL launched an update to the criteria to improve sustainability efforts. It is now live on our LEAF portal, and we aim to continue supporting lab spaces to achieve this updated accreditation or other approved green accreditations.

We are on an evolving journey towards sustainability in research and teaching. We invite you to join our sites linked below for resources, guidance and regular updates. If you have any questions or ideas, please reach out to us at sustainablelabs@exeter.ac.uk.

We’re always eager to hear from you!

Sustainable Labs Team

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