LEAF (Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework) is a proven standard for sustainable laboratory operations used by labs globally.
LEAF has been designed as a tool to help tackle the environmental impacts of conducting research in labs such as energy and water consumption, supply chain impacts, travel, teaching, and culture.
By taking part in the programme, laboratories will:
To help you get started with taking action on sustainability in your lab, LEAF provides:
The LEAF programme relaunches at the start of each academic year. For labs that want to be certified within that year, submissions will need to be completed by 18 May each year. Most audits take place during the summer but some can be done across the year. If you have a pressing need to be certified soon, please contact leaf@bath.ac.uk to discuss.
Find out how to access and use LEAF
UCL developed LEAF, which was launched in 2018, and ran a 2-year pilot across 23 universities and research institutes. The results of the pilot were overwhelmingly positive:
At Bath, you're part of a community committed to transformational change to tackle sustainability challenges. Here, you'll find an active and supportive community which is taking action in labs.
Join the LEAF network on Microsoft Teams, where you can share best practice and discuss common challenges with other lab users.
Beyond Bath, you can connect with other's taking action and learn from trials and best practice across the wider research community through the:
We're able to keep growing the number of accredited labs thanks to our LEAF auditors – members of the LEAF community who have done peer-learning training to become LEAF auditors.
As a LEAF auditor, you'll be responsible for deciding whether a lab meets the criteria for Bronze, Silver, or Gold level. You'll visit labs in various departments across the University, learn how different disciplines conduct research, and even pick up some tips that can help in your own lab.
One of the requirements for the Silver LEAF level is helping to grow a university-wide culture of sustainability. As a LEAF auditor, you'll be able to demonstrate how you're helping to develop sustainable lab practices and grow a culture of lab sustainability at Bath.
Each audit is conducted by two auditors so you'll always have someone to discuss any comments or feedback with before making any final decisions.
To become an auditor, contact the LEAF team at leaf@bath.ac.uk
130 labs across 10 departments are already working with LEAF and delivering real change tackling sustainability challenges in the lab.
Labs across the Faculties of Engineering & Design and Science are already benefitting from using LEAF.
'LEAF has helped us in Chemistry to integrate sustainability practices into our laboratories. We have recognised wasteful behaviours, saved money and reduced carbon emissions. We hope to increase the number of labs which have achieved Bronze accreditation and keep working our way towards Gold.' —Fabienne Pradaux-Caggiano, Technical Supervisor, Science Technical Services
'LEAF has been easy to implement within the Core Research Facility labs and has provided a good opportunity to assess sustainability issues within our instrument rooms. It’s already spurred us on to make a few simple changes which will have a positive environmental impact, changes which we probably wouldn’t have made without the LEAF programme.' — John Lowe, Senior NMR Spectroscopist, Core Research Facilities
Accessing and using LEAF
View the LEAF user guideAll staff and students working in laboratories across the University, including research or teaching facilities, can join our LEAF programme. If you have any questions or would like to become a LEAF auditor, please contact us.