This week marks the University's annual Sustainability Week, featuring a programme of exciting and informative activities for staff and students to get involved in.
With issues such as climate change, rising energy costs and food security high on the news agenda, everyone from large businesses to individual homeowners are increasingly mindful of their environmental impact and are actively seeking ways to reduce it.
As a Faculty, we're actively addressing this challenge. Through procedural changes and a shift in our culture, we are dedicated to reducing our environmental footprint. In this update, we spotlight the work we are doing to improve our laboratory and travel sustainability, and introduce some of the people at the forefront of these efforts.
Our laboratories
Laboratory-based research is crucial for our Faculty, but it is also highly energy and resource-intensive. It is estimated that laboratories worldwide contribute to approximately 2% of global plastic waste and consume up to 10 times more energy per square meter than a typical office.
In response to this challenge, researchers and technicians at University College London established the Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF) as a set of working practices and guidelines. The aim is to empower other universities to address sustainability issues in their labs, both in the UK and globally.
By participating in the LEAF program, our laboratories can significantly reduce their carbon emissions and foster an environment that supports high-quality research.
The people behind LEAF at Liverpool
Jenna Lowe, Laboratory Sustainability Officer
Jenna leads our LEAF programme and has been working hard to implement the guidelines across our Faculty other University departments. We interviewed Jenna to gain more insight into the scheme, understand its importance, and explore how the University plans to further integrate it.
Professor Ainhoa Mielgo Iza
Among our academic staff, Professor Ainhoa Mielgo Iza from the Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology (ISMIB), has spearheaded the implementation of LEAF within her lab, which was among the first in the Faculty to achieve a LEAF Silver accreditation in 2023. Ainhoa has also been instrumental in assisting other ISMIB labs with their application processes, leading to all labs within the Institute receiving at least a bronze LEAF award.
Going for gold
In November, the Mammalian Behaviour and Evolution Group became the first in the Faculty to achieve a LEAF Gold award, the first of many more it's hoped! The work was led by research technician Amanda Davidson.
Delighted that @MBE_liv are the first lab in @LivUniHLS to achieve the Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF) gold award for improving sustainability. Thanks to @AmandaD459 for leading on this great achievement! @LivUni_IVES; @LivUniVetSchool pic.twitter.com/xzG2wxY8aq
— Mammalian Behaviour & Evolution (@MBE_liv) November 14, 2023
Our travel
With over 5000 staff and almost 20,000 students, getting everybody to and from campus on a daily basis is one of the biggest contributors to the University's environmental impact. In addition, our staff are regularly representing the University at external events and making research visits across the globe. To better understand the impact our travel has on our sustainability obligations, a survey was recently carried out.
The survey, was open to all staff and students and aimed to gather information on travel habits, including how people travel to and from the University, how often they travel and what modes of transport they use. Dr Christina Birch recently carried out a year long study to analyse this data, and produce a report highlighting the considerable cost of travel, and how we may improve.
Looking forward...
Sustainability is a priority for the University, important to every aspect of our work. Recognising both the global value of our academic role and our local impact as a large organisation, our vision is to drive forward environmental and social equity through our education, research, and operations. Sustainability, including the achievement of Net Zero by 2035, will underpin how we operate within and beyond our organisational boundaries.
Read more about Sustainablity as part of our Liverpool 2031 Strategic Ambition
How can I get involved?
Sustainability Week 2024 takes place 26 February - 1 March 2024, so check out the full programme of events and activities which are happening across the University.
Explore the activities planned for Sustainability Week 2024