Environmental sustainability

Each of our three partner institutions has developed ambitious sustainability strategies, underpinned by substantial investment and a shared commitment to climate action. As signatories to the Race to Zero for Universities and Colleges, they have pledged to achieve net zero emissions by 2040 – ten years ahead of the UK Government’s 2050 target.

REACT’s approach to environmental sustainability is closely aligned with those of our partner organisations. We strive to be early adopters of innovative practices, leveraging institutional resources to lead by example and inspire others.

Through active collaboration and the exchange of best practices, we are working together to embed sustainability into our operations.

To ensure accountability and drive continuous improvement, we are developing a sustainability action plan and will report on our progress against this to the leadership team.

We have identified four key focus areas to assess and manage our environmental impact:

Monitoring our environmental footprint

We conduct regular audits to assess our footprint, contributing directly to our LEAF accreditation and continuous improvement efforts.

Embedding sustainability into research design

We integrate sustainability into research design, planning, and operations through targeted training, staff inductions, and internal communications. We actively identify and share innovative approaches to embed sustainability into future research practices.

Promoting sustainable laboratory operations

We foster sustainable lab practices by pursuing LEAF accreditation, managing our research services efficiently, reducing in-person meetings, and adhering to institutional policies on low-impact travel.

Sustainable procurement of products and services 

We collaborate across institutions and with external partners to share resources and reduce waste. Joint procurement decisions are guided by environmental considerations, with a preference for supply chains that prioritise sustainability.