Environmental sustainability for researchers

As supporters of the Concordat for Environmental Sustainability in Research we recognise the need to change how the research and innovation we fund is conducted and our part in promoting solutions. We are taking shared action now and into the future to reduce and eliminate our own environmental impacts and emissions, and achieve the transition to sustainable practices.

Advice for applicants

Applicants are encouraged to plan their award activities using the most sustainable approaches available to them, describe these measures within their grant application and provide a rationale for the choices made. For example, if you are considering attending a conference, outline whether you plan to participate online to reduce travel or attend in person and explain why this option is the most appropriate and worthwhile for your research or professional development.

Applicants may include direct costs in their budget to support the adoption of sustainable practices, where relevant. All costs associated with environmentally sustainable options such as purchasing more sustainable materials or equipment, or choosing lower-carbon travel options should be fully justified within the application, even if these options incur a higher upfront cost.

We recognise that researchers based in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) may face infrastructure and resource constraints which make it more challenging to meet the same sustainability standards as those in high-income settings. However, we still expect LMIC-based applicants to consider environmental sustainability in their award activities, adapted appropriately to their local context and available resources.

Environmental sustainability: Eligible costs

Direct environmental sustainability costs

Direct environmental sustainability costs are specific, project-related expenses that directly support the reduction of your research’s environmental impact. Examples include:

• Purchasing sustainable or recycled consumables and materials.
• Upgrading to energy-efficient equipment which will be necessary for your project.
• Costs for sustainable travel (e.g. train instead of air travel).
• Costs for recycling or waste reduction initiatives directly linked to your project.

Applicants should clearly explain how each cost contributes to environmental sustainability and why it is necessary for the proposed research/award activities.

Environmentally sustainable consumables

Applicants may request funding for research consumables and materials that are environmentally sustainable, including those with a higher upfront cost, where there is a clear and demonstrable environmental benefit. This may include items that:

• Reduce plastic or hazardous waste
• Are biodegradable or recyclable
• Have lower carbon footprints in their production or transport
• Support circular economy principles (e.g. reusable labware)

Researchers should justify the environmental advantages of the proposed consumables in their application and how they align with the project’s sustainability goals. Medical Research UK recognises that investing in greener alternatives may incur additional costs and encourages applicants to consider long-term value and impact. We also acknowledge that the use of sustainable consumables may not always be feasible where institutional procurement processes require ordering standard items in bulk or mandate preferred suppliers.

Example: A researcher requests reusable glass vials instead of single-use plastic tubes at a higher cost as this change is expected to reduce plastic waste over the course of the project. Additionally, they /Applicant outline/s how they will work with suppliers which offer bulk packaging to reduce transport emissions and packaging waste.

Equipment costs and sustainable use

Applicants are encouraged to minimise the environmental impact of equipment purchases by:

• Using existing equipment or shared facilities where possible.
• Leasing equipment for short-term needs.
• Collaborating with other research groups to share resources.

If new equipment is essential, applicants should justify why alternatives were not feasible and describe any steps taken to ensure the purchase is as sustainable as possible (e.g. choosing energy-efficient models, considering lifecycle impacts).

Climate-conscious travel guidelines for researchers

As part of the charity's commitment to reducing the carbon footprint of funded research, researchers are expected to consider the environmental impact of travel when preparing their budgets. The following guidelines are designed to help Principal Investigators and their teams cost their applications responsibly and in line with our grant Terms and Conditions.

General principles

• Remote collaboration should be the default for meetings, workshops, and stakeholder engagement, unless in-person attendance is essential for project delivery or impact.
• Researchers must ensure that travel decisions are justifiable, proportional, and documented, representing a reasonable use of charitable funds and following environmental sustainability principles.

Travel planning and costing

When travel is necessary, researchers should:

• Prioritise low-carbon travel options, such as train travel over flights, especially for domestic and short-haul journeys, and public transport over private vehicles.
• Consider group travel to reduce the number of individual trips.
• Include carbon offsetting costs in the budget, where applicable.

Example: If a researcher chooses to travel from London to Edinburgh for to attend a conference, they should opt for a train rather than a flight, even if the train is more expensive.

Carbon offsetting requirements

Investigators must follow their Lead Research Organisation’s (LRO) carbon offsetting policy, where one exists.

If the LRO does not have a policy, researchers must:

• Calculate the carbon footprint of their travel (e.g. using the ICAO Carbon Emissions Calculator).
• Select a recognised carbon offset provider.

Example: A flight to attend an international conference may be unavoidable. In this case, the researcher should calculate the emissions and include offsetting costs in the budget or plan to vire funds from another heading.

Budgeting and approval of carbon offsetting costs

Carbon offsetting costs may be included in the budget at the point of application or covered by virement between grant headings.

Example: If, during the course of an awarded grant, offsetting costs exceed the original budget due to a change in travel plans, the Principal Investigator (PI) should meet the additional charges by using underspend available in other budget hearings on the award. The PI should then inform the Research Team of the amount to be vired between budget headings to cover these additional offsetting costs.

Practical tips and resources

Here are some ways you can consider making your research better for planetary health:

1. Go digital to reduce paper waste

• Use electronic lab notebooks instead of paper-based records
• Share documents, reports, and manuscripts digitally rather than printing
• Implement digital signatures and online collaboration tools

2. Optimise energy use in labs

• Use energy-efficient equipment and LED lighting
• Turn off or unplug unused devices, including fume hoods, centrifuges, and computers
• Consolidate freezer storage and use -70°C instead of -80°C to save energy

3. Reduce, reuse, and recycle lab materials

• Choose reusable lab supplies (e.g. glass instead of plastic)
• Recycle paper, pipette tip boxes, chemical bottles, and packaging
• Reuse reagents and chemicals where safe and possible

4. Use sustainable lab consumables

• Choose suppliers that offer sustainable and biodegradable alternatives
• Prioritise products with minimal packaging or those made from recycled materials
• Participate in lab recycling programmes for gloves, pipette tips, and plastics

5. Adopt green chemistry principles

• Minimise hazardous chemical use by opting for safer alternatives
• Scale down reactions to use fewer reagents and solvents
• Properly dispose of chemical waste through designated eco-friendly channels

6. Reduce water consumption

• Use water-efficient autoclaves, dishwashers, and purification systems
• Turn off taps when not in use
• Repair any leaks promptly

7. Choose sustainable travel options

• Reduce air travel by opting for virtual conferences and meetings
• Use public transport, carshare, or active transport (such as cycling) when commuting to research facilities
• Offset carbon emissions from necessary travel with certified programmes

8. Sustainability in field research

• Use non-invasive data collection methods where possible
• Choose eco-friendly sample storage and transport solutions

9. Advocate for institutional sustainability policies

• Encourage your employer to implement sustainability programmes
• Engage in interdisciplinary collaborations for sustainable solutions

10. Educate and inspire others

• Promote sustainability awareness within your research group
• Share best practices with colleagues and students
• Publish and present on eco-friendly research methods to drive change in the field

Further information

Here are some further initiatives focused on environmental sustainability in research:

• My Green Lab: A non-profit organisation dedicated to creating a culture of sustainability in laboratories through programs, certifications, and educational resources.
  
• International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories: Focuses on advancing sustainable laboratory practices globally through education, resources, and events.

• Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF): A framework by UCL to improve the sustainability and efficiency of laboratories, offering tools and resources to reduce carbon emissions and resource use.

• NIHR Carbon Reduction Guidelines: Provides guidelines for researchers to reduce carbon emissions in health research, supporting the NHS's goal of becoming a net-zero health service.