Attain Sustainability Accreditations For Your Organisation Through a National Scheme
At SISO we work with lab technicians all over the country and something that is at the front of everyone’s minds at the moment is environmental responsibility.
Laboratories have emerged as a focal point for sustainability initiatives in the past few years as they are high-energy, high-resource environments and often consume 3 to 10 times more energy than other areas. In response to this challenge, University College London has introduced the Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF), a pioneering scheme designed to revolutionize laboratory efficiency and sustainability.
LEAF is not just another run-of-the-mill sustainability program. It’s a comprehensive framework that empowers lab users to identify practical steps to make their labs more sustainable.
From equipment and space utilization to ventilation, procurement, waste management, samples, and chemical usage, LEAF covers all aspects of laboratory operations. LEAF is designed to be a collaborative effort, with participants dedicating as much or as little time as they wish. An average of about 10 hours per academic year is recommended for maximum impact.
The program encourages labs to complete a set of criteria to achieve one of the three coveted levels: Bronze, Silver, or Gold. Furthermore, LEAF offers built-in calculators that allow labs to estimate the carbon and financial savings they’ve achieved through their actions.
The LEAF program operates on an annual cycle, with some key dates to keep in mind:
Submission Deadline: The next submission deadline for LEAF is Friday, May 17, 2024. Ensure you have your achievements and documentation ready for submission by this date.
Peer-to-Peer Audits: Peer-to-peer audits, an essential part of the LEAF program, will take place in June 2024. These audits may be conducted in person or virtually, depending on the circumstances.
Certificate Publication: Certificates for achieving the Bronze, Silver, or Gold level will be published in July 2024.
If you’re still managing your laboratories with spreadsheets and a plethora of online and offline documents, it’s high time you explored Smartlab, our cloud-based laboratory management system.
We’re currently hard at work developing our next software version, set to introduce our new revolutionary tool: Service Hub. This dynamic addition is designed to seamlessly integrate with your department’s daily operations, providing a comprehensive solution to track everything on your to-do list.
It’s our aim to make your path towards achieving the coveted LEAF Certification a smoother and more efficient journey.
For more information check out the LEAF FAQs by clicking here.
