Design your research for sustainability

Designing research with sustainability in mind helps minimise negative environmental impacts while promoting long-term scientific, social and economic benefits.

As sustainability becomes an increasingly critical aspect of global research, university researchers have a unique opportunity to integrate environmentally responsible practices into their research design and execution. This guidance outlines steps you can take to incorporate sustainability into your research practices, though is not exhaustive.

Increasingly, funders expect sustainability to be considered early in planning your research projects. Additionally, funders are often willing to pay for more expensive sustainable solutions and options, so early consideration is vital. This includes but is not limited to low-carbon travel and sustainable procurement.

Sustainable research practices not only reduce negative impacts but also drive innovation, improve efficiency, and build positive community relationships. Through these efforts, our research community at Bath can contribute to a more sustainable and responsible scientific future.

Advancing sustainable research practice

In 2025, the University signed the Concordat for Environmental Sustainability of Research & Innovation Practice, a landmark move in our commitment to advancing sustainability.

Design your methodologies for low environmental impact

Sustainability is recognised in our commitments and approach:

it's a key part of the Research Design pillar of the Research Culture Action Plan
you should recognise sustainability and environmental impacts in your research ethics proposal, including the ethical implications of the impact of our research on climate change
the University is a signatory to the Green Chemistry Commitment, recognising the need to embed the 12 principles of Green Chemistry in our teaching and practice
for engineers, apply the 12 principles of Green Engineering

Sustainability is an important aspect of REF 2029 in the People, Culture and Environment section.

Responsible resource use

While funders will be willing to pay for sustainable alternatives, they also expect you to minimise the use of resources as much as possible. To do this:

use shared equipment at Bath – see the equipment sharing database and Core Research Facilities
when applying for funding, look for facilities available for use through your funders, like Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC) facilities
purchase equipment that can be used across multiple projects
consider the full life cycle of products and invest in durable materials that reduce the need for frequent replacements
reduce the amount of consumables required for your research

Travel and transport

Consider and reduce the footprint of the travel and transportation required to conduct your research activities, minimising travel wherever possible and prioritising low-carbon options where it's necessary.

This should apply to all types of travel related to your research, including research field trips, conference and meeting travel, and transportation of goods and services.

Read about reducing your environmental impact when travelling for research.

Data and open science

It's vital to back up your data to preserve your work and avoid repeat experimentation and excessive resource use.

However, it’s also important not to back up your data excessively, as this can be energy-intensive and wasteful. This is particularly relevant for anyone with large, complex, or highly numerous files.

Regularly maintain and review your data management practices to make sure they're adequate but not excessive.

Sharing your data openly in publicly accessible repositories:

promotes transparency
enables collaboration
minimises duplicated efforts across the scientific community

By promoting data sharing and open methodologies, you contribute to research efficiency, reducing the need for other teams to replicate studies and reducing unnecessary resource consumption.

Open research is key focus of the University's Research Culture Action Plan.

Operational impacts

Research at Bath is responsible for roughly a third of our total energy use, and labs and computing are key contributors to this.

Energy

Optimise your research practices for energy efficiency, including selection and use of equipment by:

opting for techniques that require fewer resources (like online simulations of computational modelling)
implementing digital solutions to replace energy- or resource-intense alternatives (such as remote sensing instead of fieldwork, when feasible)

See how you can save energy in your lab.

Lab practices

Where possible, switch to lab practices with lower environmental impacts, considering:

energy
water
use of consumables
waste
chemical and sample management
teaching and lab culture

Discover more about actions you can take for sustainability in your lab.

Influencing broader change

Through our education, research, partnerships and culture, we can drive positive change for sustainability.

Make sure your research takes social sustainability into account. This could include:

considering the impact of your findings on diverse populations
working towards equitable benefits, particularly for underserved or vulnerable communities
engage local communities or stakeholders with research projects, especially in studies involving environmental or social interventions

This makes sure research outcomes are relevant, culturally sensitive, and have long-term positive impacts.

Foster a sustainable research culture at Bath

At Bath, we have a community committed to delivering real change to tackle sustainability challenges.

This is clear in the breadth of sustainability-focused research expertise across the range of disciplines in our University. It is also reflected in our community culture, so we are well-placed to tackle challenges head-on.

To enable this culture to continue growing, to share best practice and expertise, and to find solutions collaboratively, you can:

engage students in sustainability practices as an important aspect of their education and experience at Bath
encourage students to adopt sustainable research methods, host workshops on sustainable practices, and collaborate on research that emphasises sustainability
join our growing lab sustainability group on Microsoft Teams

Conduct research for sustainability

As well as considering and minimising the environmental impacts of how you conduct your research, you could incorporate sustainability into your research goals.

Sustainability-driven objectives

Make sure your research aims to address relevant sustainability challenges, such as climate change, waste reduction, social equity, and biodiversity preservation. Frame your research questions and hypotheses with the consideration of long-term environmental impacts.

Collaboration for broader impact

Work with interdisciplinary teams that include experts in environmental science, policy, and sustainability so your research goals align with sustainable development objectives.

Get advice

If you have any questions about how you can design your research for sustainability and meet requirements from your funders, please get in touch.