Over 22 members of the department attended the first meeting of the Sustainability Committee on 6 July 2023 in a move to encourage better sustainability practices here.
The meeting was chaired by second-year Forse group PhD student Chloe Balhatchet, who has been the driving force behind setting up the committee and enlisting departmental support. Chloe is actively involved in sustainability programmes in the department, her college and the University, and was recently awarded the Vice-Chancellor’s Social Impact Award in Sustainability for her activities.
Sustainability in the laboratory
The meeting covered a wide range of existing sustainability initiatives, such as the Nitrile glove recycling scheme. Although there have been some problems, most notably in the unpredictability of scheduled collections, Chloe noted that over 20 groups and laboratories are participating in the scheme, and several new committee members asked for recycling bins for their groups. The committee also examined the pellets that are made from the recycled gloves, which are used to make carpet underlay, and heard that the recycling company is interested in using the department as a case study.
Other issues discussed included simple ways to encourage group members to shut the sashes on fumehoods (which are responsible for three to four times an average UK household’s energy consumption each year), such as using stickers which form a smile when a fumehood is closed. It was proposed to hold a week-long ‘Shut the Sash’ drive when term starts, and to measure its success by displaying the department’s daily energy consumption on a screen.
Chloe is a Sustainability Officer in the Forse group, which has made sustainability a core group value and standing item at its meetings, and has taken many steps to reduce waste and improve the group’s wider environmental impact as a result. The group has also developed a sustainability guide that other groups can adapt. Committee members were also encouraged to adopt the LEAF scheme (Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework), an initiative started at UCL which helps labs take actions to be more sustainable and efficient.
It is clear there are many possible steps that can be taken both within the department and the university to improve its carbon footprint. Potential future initiatives that were discussed include trials of glass to replace single-use plastic, how to make procurement more efficient to reduce number of deliveries (and thus fuel consumption), sustainable travel and introducing green chemistry modules at undergrad and postgrad levels.
Diverse views needed
It was pleasing to see in attendance postgrads, postdocs, lab managers and particularly technicians, who often have responsibility for the successful introduction of new measures within a lab. It was also agreed it will be important to recruit undergrads when term starts in October.
The group was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic, but all were aware that the support of people at all levels of the department is crucial, especially those in key positions who have the power to implement the changes required.
PIs Andrew Wheatley and Alex Forse (who sent apologies) support the committee, but the active backing of more research group leaders will also be needed in order to institute more sustainable practices.
The goal is to make sustainable thinking an ingrained part of every departmental decision, and to help the leading chemistry department in the UK begin to lead the way in sustainability.
Chloe says: “39 people are now members of Chemistry Sustainability Teams channel, and we hope to see this community continuing to grow.” If you would like to join the committee or have your own questions or ideas, please email Chloe at sustainability@ch.cam.ac.uk.