Environmental Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of research laboratory protocols
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Surrey
Department Name: Centre for Environment & Sustainability
Abstract
Medical research laboratories have traditionally concentrated on carrying out the best scientific research for new
discoveries in medicine. However, we are all aware now of the importance of Climate Change and other environmental aspects of daily life like waste management, pollution, problems with single use plastics etc. Research laboratories use a lot of plastic items (e.g. PPE, gloves, equipment etc) and we know that laboratory plastics disposal makes up about 2 % of all plastics waste globally. We also know that with new knowledge and measurements, and some changes in practices, we can greatly reduce such material and energy consumptions, making our science discoveries much more environmentally friendly. Work done very recently by the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) shows that most of their environmental and carbon footprints are caused by the work that goes on in the laboratories (rather than from commuting to work there or for heating or lighting in its buildings).
Our project is a joint effort therefore by the world renowned ICR and the Centre for Environment & Sustainability at the nearby University of Surrey to carefully measure the environmental footprint of several laboratory procedures at the ICR and, with their scientists, to re-design or adapt them to make them more 'sustainable' - without compromising the quality of the science. This is a ground-breaking project as our 'gold standard' for environmental impact assessment (known as LCA) has only been used very little on such studies. It is undoubtedly the best approach to get real, meaningful data that will help guide the improvements to the science footprint and, as well as measuring what we do presently, we will also be testing out new ways of doing these lab procedures and measuring the improvements.
We are sure that high quality environmental data will be highly respected by the scientists at ICR (and much more widely) and will help to bring valuable innovation into the ways we go about making the new, and more sustainable, medical discoveries of the future.
discoveries in medicine. However, we are all aware now of the importance of Climate Change and other environmental aspects of daily life like waste management, pollution, problems with single use plastics etc. Research laboratories use a lot of plastic items (e.g. PPE, gloves, equipment etc) and we know that laboratory plastics disposal makes up about 2 % of all plastics waste globally. We also know that with new knowledge and measurements, and some changes in practices, we can greatly reduce such material and energy consumptions, making our science discoveries much more environmentally friendly. Work done very recently by the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) shows that most of their environmental and carbon footprints are caused by the work that goes on in the laboratories (rather than from commuting to work there or for heating or lighting in its buildings).
Our project is a joint effort therefore by the world renowned ICR and the Centre for Environment & Sustainability at the nearby University of Surrey to carefully measure the environmental footprint of several laboratory procedures at the ICR and, with their scientists, to re-design or adapt them to make them more 'sustainable' - without compromising the quality of the science. This is a ground-breaking project as our 'gold standard' for environmental impact assessment (known as LCA) has only been used very little on such studies. It is undoubtedly the best approach to get real, meaningful data that will help guide the improvements to the science footprint and, as well as measuring what we do presently, we will also be testing out new ways of doing these lab procedures and measuring the improvements.
We are sure that high quality environmental data will be highly respected by the scientists at ICR (and much more widely) and will help to bring valuable innovation into the ways we go about making the new, and more sustainable, medical discoveries of the future.
Technical Summary
We will calibrate the environmental impact profiles of laboratory medical research protocols at ICR. The insights gained will be used by the scientist and environmental analysis teams to co-create re-designs and adaptations to maximise scientific benefit at improved environmental impact, particularly zero carbon. A whole a life cycle (cradle-to-grave) approach, using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology (ISO 14040/44, EC-PEF), will be applied to up to 5 current ICR laboratory science protocols. This LCA research will create new, detailed, bespoke Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) datasets for all materials, chemicals, energy, wastes (incl. recycling) and equipment and staff time needed per protocol to establish robust baseline environmental 'footprints'.
These LCA footprints will calibrate the protocols' Global Warming potential (Carbon footprint), resource depletion, ecotoxicity, acidification, eutrophication and other environmental impacts. The 'baseline' LCAs will then be used inform the co-design of revised protocols with equal/enhanced efficiency and accuracy but with calibrated environmental benefits. Examples of at least 2 of these 'environmentally adapted' (EA) protocols will be demonstrated at ICR during the project.
The protocols will be selected from the following: Electrophoresis and Blotting, Microscopy and Imaging, Enzyme reactions, DNA and Gene expression analysis, Cell culture manipulations, cell health (viability) and phenotypic assays based on their:
i) Frequency of use, ii) Estimated carbon/environmental savings potential, and iii) Potential for miniaturisation and new technology.
Initial 'targets' are: Enzyme assays [generic ATP turnover], and Cell viability assays [metabolism based readout]. Assay quality (robustness, reproducibility) is readily quantified (Z prime) to show the EA protocols have no effect on data output.
The protocol groups require a diverse range of inputs, operating needs (inc. PPE) and wastes and are in widespread use.
These LCA footprints will calibrate the protocols' Global Warming potential (Carbon footprint), resource depletion, ecotoxicity, acidification, eutrophication and other environmental impacts. The 'baseline' LCAs will then be used inform the co-design of revised protocols with equal/enhanced efficiency and accuracy but with calibrated environmental benefits. Examples of at least 2 of these 'environmentally adapted' (EA) protocols will be demonstrated at ICR during the project.
The protocols will be selected from the following: Electrophoresis and Blotting, Microscopy and Imaging, Enzyme reactions, DNA and Gene expression analysis, Cell culture manipulations, cell health (viability) and phenotypic assays based on their:
i) Frequency of use, ii) Estimated carbon/environmental savings potential, and iii) Potential for miniaturisation and new technology.
Initial 'targets' are: Enzyme assays [generic ATP turnover], and Cell viability assays [metabolism based readout]. Assay quality (robustness, reproducibility) is readily quantified (Z prime) to show the EA protocols have no effect on data output.
The protocol groups require a diverse range of inputs, operating needs (inc. PPE) and wastes and are in widespread use.
Description | Please note that the PI is in contact with MRC regarding extension of this award and presentations to event at The Crick in April 2024 |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
Impact | Raised awareness in laboratory practice and associated policies. |
Description | Ongoing collaboration on LCA and laboratory sustainability - ICR/CES Univ of Surrey |
Organisation | Institute of Cancer Research UK |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I continue to conduct ongoing LCA research with Lisa O'Fee of the ICR |
Collaborator Contribution | Data collection, planning of presentation of project and results at forthcoming conferences and submission to journal(s). |
Impact | Multi-disciplinary covering laboratory science, Life Cycle Assessment and other sustainability assessment, and institutional policy |
Start Year | 2023 |
Description | Invited presentation on the MRC LCA project to the "Pathways to a Sustainable Laboratory Supply Chain" Symposium convened by Imperial College London |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | This presentation (and Symposium) was an action-oriented workshop bringing together key people from across the higher education research system and beyond - funders, suppliers, purchasers, industry and the NHS - to discuss how we can make our lab purchasing and supply chains more sustainable, hosted by Imperial for the HE Sector-wide Responsible Procurement group. The aims were: 1. To gather and share good practice and learnings on lab supply chain sustainability (potentially publishing these as case studies / guidance) 2. To agree concrete next steps that we can take to help drive the transition for lab supply chains. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
URL | https://www.linkedin.com/posts/allison-hunter-51a6ba9_we-were-delighted-to-host-a-pathways-to-a-acti... |
Description | Involvement in AstraZeneca invited seminary at ICR |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Participation in ICR expert seminar with external speaker on sustainability of laboratory practices linked to this award - organised by this award's Co-I. Links made for ongoing data exchange and collaboration with AZ. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
Description | Presentation on Sustainability of laboratory protocols |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited presentation by award Co-I and PI at ELRIG 2023 in Liverpool |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://elrig.org/portfolio/drug-discovery-2023/ |
Description | Presentation to an expert group |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Presentation on the use of LCA and scoping results for LCA on laboratory plastics |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |