Environmentally-Friendly and Sustainable Factors
In our world that is forever changing and developing to include and improve new technologies, there comes the cost of losing our planet's beauty and life to the negative environmental additions we add as humans.
Our natural resources are not unlimited, and unsustainable practices can damage them faster than they can recover. By choosing sustainable solutions, like renewable energy, reducing waste, and conserving ecosystems, we lessen pollution and slow the effects of climate change. These actions not only protect wildlife and natural habitats but also safeguard human health and future generations.
Environmentally-friendly means causing minimal immediate harm to the planet, while sustainability focuses on aiming to meet present needs without compromising future generations through the balance of environmental, social and economic factors for long-term health and viability.
All sustainable practices are eco-friendly, but not all eco-friendly actions are truly sustainable because they might not focus on long-term resource preservation and social equity.
Let's do better to look after mother nature because caring for the environment is ultimately caring for ourselves, ensuring that the Earth remains a livable and thriving home for years to come. Reduce, reuse and recycle.
What is the LEAF Scheme?
Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF) is a standard that has been set in place by the UCL to improve efficiency and sustainability in laboratories. This means that labs that invest in taking environmentally-friendly and sustainable action and implementations in their lab are contributing towards addressing the climate and ecological emergencies emergencies that are apparent via positive changes.
As the UCL website puts it, "laboratory-based research is essential for advancing society but it is also extremely energy and resource intensive. It’s estimated that laboratories are responsible for around 2% of global plastic waste and use 3-10 times more energy per meter squared than a typical office."
This means that laboratories that join the LEAF programme are determined to reduce their carbon emissions and create an environment that supports research quality. In doing so, the UCL will award each laboratory that joins the LEAF Scheme a certain level dependent on how many sustainable actions they have taken and will either receive a Bronze, Silver, or Gold level.
To take part in the LEAF Scheme programme or to read more about it, check out the UCL website on the LEAF Scheme.
More About Laboratory Environmental Factors
Lab-based research can produce transformational discoveries, but it comes with an environmental cost. Estimates suggest that it accounts for:
- 60% of a university’s total water consumption
- 2% (5.5 million tonnes) of the global plastic waste
- 3-10x the energy usage per m2 vs. an office of the equivalent size
Which is why it is so important for us as a collective to take measures to do better. To read more about what the LEAF Scheme does and how you can take part, feel free to read the LEAF Scheme Brochure.
How Do iLab Solutions Contribute?
iLabs provide various forms of sustainable and environmentally-friendly options to aid our customers in gaining higher levels of LEAF Scheme awards such as our partnership with ReGenFix for column regeneration, as well as our extensive stock of parts and spares at a fraction of the cost of OEMs for easy replacement and fixings.
iLabs are dedicated to help our customers achieve the most environmentally-friendly and sustainable options in their laboratories to boost their chances of higher awarding and do our part to save the planet. If you're interested in us helping you take steps to make your lab meet LEAF Scheme needs, then please don't hesitate to contact us.