Minimising the environmental impact of our research

University research laboratories are energy and material intensive, consuming up to 10 times more energy than standard office spaces. They also generates large volumes of of distilled water and significant quantity single-use plastic waste every year.

King’s manages a substantial network of research laboratories across our campuses, covering more than 35,000 sqm and containing 7,000 metres of ventilated lab benches. Within these laboratories, staff are implementing carbon reduction initiatives that support achieve our climate and sustainability ambitions.

In 2025, all King’s wet labs achieved LEAF Bronze status, making King’s one of the first universities in the UK to achieve this level of accreditation across the University. They are continuing their work in this area with a view to achieving gold across all labs by 2030.

The Sustainable Research Team supports King’s researchers in strengthening green credentials through lab accreditation, sustainable research networks, and alignment with grant requirements and the University’s net zero targets. With wet labs in steady progress, the next challenge focuses on engaging computationally intensive laboratories through GreenDisc and developing workshops on efficient use of High-Performance Computers and data storage.