Last month, another funding body made reporting on sustainability practices mandatory.
Today, we’ll look at what that means and I'll provide some tips for academic as well as industry labs.
Without further ado, let’s go.
Today's Lesson: Sustainability Reporting
Discussing news and tips for your lab
Number Of The Day
In October 2024, representatives from major research institutions and European funding bodies met in Heidelberg to discuss sustainability in research policies. As we have discussed previously, eventually 7 funding bodies signed the agreement, and ever since, more and more funders request reporting of sustainable lab practices. Also in the industry, we see net-zero targets and ambitions like CSRD that will require reporting.
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Sustainability Reports and Practices
Since last month, the Austrian Science Fund requires its applicants to report on their sustainability practices.
You can read more about both their commitments and their sustainability reporting requirements here.
It follows suit with the Wellcome Trust, CRUK, and the DFG, which already require reporting.
In other words, some of the biggest funding bodies worldwide don’t give out funding without asking for sustainable practices.
Please note that for now, the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) only collects this information to assess it; it won’t yet be part of their review process.
However, as I work as an advisor for institutes and companies, let me share some tips on how you can comply with their requested information.
What They Want to Know
Similar to reports for Wellcome or DFG, they cover a broad range of areas but provide little guidance. Therefore, let me explain:
Resource-efficient project and experimental design
That means: reuse of items, smart sample sizes (especially when rodents are involved), using combination methods
As many consider these topics very technical, I compiled tips on experimental design.
Use of existing data or materials
That means: using in silico approaches, leveraging Bayesian statistics, sharing equipment
As I am in touch with sustainability managers at CU Boulder who organize equipment sharing, this website might be useful for you.
The CU Boulder team, especially Kathryn Ramirez-Aguilar, have been working hard on equipment sharing and space use optimization - check out their website or this poster if you’d like to know more.
Energy-efficient computing and modeling methods
That means: using local data storage instead of clouds for backups, choosing server providers consciously, and optimizing code
While I listed a range of options above, you will find many more portals such as Labsquare - some specific to your local market. However, do your due diligence before using them.
Sustainable organization of events
That means: reducing amounts of giveaways, hybrid formats (for online participation), avoiding hosting international researchers for in-person institute seminars
That means: trains for nearby events, obligations after purchasing flight tickets to pay a percentage into a fund, using Airbnb instead of hotels if feasible
This is what you can write in your application. However, even if you don’t apply for funding, there are similar advancements going on in industry:
What Companies and Institutes Face
Several companies and some research institutions have set net-zero goals. However, reaching them often takes longer than many expect.
Therefore, I advise my clients to focus on two key points when starting:
Review procurement and use of instruments.
These are often overlooked, but even in the high-performance segment, you will find 30–60% lower energy consumption.
This is edited from a Waters brochure - their Xevo TQ Absolute Triple-Quadrupole mass spectrometer is far more sustainable compared to similar models, while still competing in the high-performance segment.
Similarly, a handful of companies actively work on instruments that use significantly fewer reagents and samples, allowing you to downscale while saving time.
In an article with Waters, we outlined some of these aspects.
Secondly, start to quantify. You cannot reach net zero if you don’t have numbers.
Measuring energy consumption (or at least estimating it through plug meters) gives you concrete data and ideas on where to save.
Having a sense of waste generation and procurement practices allows you to calculate impacts once push comes to shove.
For all institutes under a society or for companies with a parent: my tip is to give them a metric. They will love you for it.
Whether it’s the Max Planck Society, the Leibniz Association, or companies such as Bayer and GSK, they have all openly committed to sustainability. However, especially with 2030 goals approaching, time is running out. Therefore, don’t hold back from supporting your ‘parent’ organization; they will be more than grateful if you take work off their shoulders.
For example, quantify and tell them how many kWh you saved by reducing air exchange rates or closing fume hoods.
Procure more locally and calculate the gCO₂e you saved.
Or measure how much waste (a scientist, a group, your institute) produces and how much you can reduce this through greener practices.
They often struggle with implementation—therefore, you taking the burden off their shoulders might be greatly rewarded.
Applying The Knowledge
Sustainability is about to become a requirement.
While for now reporting is key, at some point effective changes will take center stage.
Starting early is crucial because it safeguards you from getting into a squeeze where sudden changes can easily disrupt processes.
Work with a close-knit team or an advisor/consultant if you lack experience (fill out this short google form if you'd appreciate my help)
Working with someone from the outside often makes things easier and shows top-down support within institutions/companies.
Just please know, you don’t have to go through all of this alone.
How We Feel Today
References
Penndorf, P., et al., 2023. A new approach to making scientific research more efficient – rethinking sustainability. FEBS Letters, 597(19), pp. 2371–2374. doi:10.1002/1873-3468.14736.
If you have a wish or a question, feel free to reply to this Email. Otherwise, wish you a beautiful week! See you again on the 29th : )
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