LEAF - Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework

Are you a PI or wet lab user in FBMH? LEAF accreditation required by July 2025

by Zachary Macpherson | Feb 27, 2025 | Environmental Sustainability (ES) | 0 comments

The Faculty has committed to ensuring that all wet laboratories in our Faculty buildings achieve a minimum of Bronze LEAF accreditation by July 2025.

The Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF) is an innovative scheme designed to drive improvements in laboratory efficiency. Currently, 54% of FBMH labs hold a LEAF accreditation. Each lab must nominate a LEAF Champion to lead the award application process.

Do you know who your LEAF Champion is?

So far, 83% of PIs have a LEAF Champion. If your wet lab doesn’t have a LEAF Champion, we want to hear from you. The accreditation process can take a couple of months, so it is vital that all unaccredited labs have a LEAF Champion in place as soon as possible. LEAF champions are usually PhD students but can also be a PI if you have a small lab.

Why is this important?

The University has committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions for Scope 1 and 2 by 2038 and scope 3 by 2050. To achieve this, we must consider how we operate across all University spaces, including laboratories.

LEAF is a national sustainable labs accreditation programme adopted by many universities. It is soon to become a compulsory requirement to grants from select funders (e.g. CRUK). It provides a structured framework for wet lab users to assess and improve their environmental performance. The scheme recognises existing best practices and offers a roadmap for further improvements.

In achieving a LEAF accreditation, labs are taking shared action to reduce negative environmental impacts and emissions and transition to sustainable practices. These actions align with the university’s recent commitments in signing the Concordat for the Environmental Sustainability of Research and Innovation Practice.

How to achieve Bronze accreditation

Nominate a LEAF Champion to lead the accreditation process for your lab. PIs who share a lab can share a LEAF Champion, but larger labs are encouraged to have a LEAF Champion per PI group to coordinate efforts.
- Nominated champions should complete the LEAF Champion Registration Form. After completion, new champions will receive an induction email with next steps and useful links.
Attend LEAF002 training
- LEAF Champions must attend a LEAF002 Training session. Other lab members interested in lab sustainability are also encouraged to attend.
- Register the lab on the UCL LEAF website. The website provides a framework, resources, and calculators to assist with the award application.
Access internal LEAF resources and use them to make an award application
- LEAF Champions will receive access to internal resources via the Sustainable Lab Network Teams and SharePoint sites.
- This includes the FBMH Bronze Induction Document, which outlines criteria to assess:
  - What your lab already does
  - What your lab does not yet do
  - Identifying barriers and action plans
- The LEAF002 training workshop and LEAF network provide additional support to help labs overcome challenges.
- Lab visits to accredited labs can be arranged for mentorship and guidance.
LEAF champions then submit an award application on the UCL website and one of our LEAF Auditors will arrange an audit. If you are successful then you will be sent a certificate to display.