CITIID receives Silver LEAF award for sustainability

CITIID has achieved the Silver LEAF accreditation in recognition of exemplary actions undertaken to improve the sustainability practices as part of the laboratory efficiency assessment framework (LEAF).

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Building on last year's Bronze LEAF award, the CITIID Sustainability Committee and building management team have implemented coordinated sustainability measures, including maintaining 98% of ultra-low temperature (ULT) freezers operating at –70°C and all monitored via the Tscan 24/7 service. CITIID also operates a communal sharing model for Department-owned core equipment and oversees sustainable tissue culture practices, including minimising plastic use and optimising procurement through the CITIID Facilities Committee, with engagement across academic and NHS partners. Together, these actions have been recognised with the LEAF Silver accreditation.

Established by University College London (UCL), the Laboratory Efficiency Action Framework (LEAF) is a certification for environmental sustainability of laboratories. LEAF supports research organisations in reducing the environmental impact of laboratory operations while maintaining research quality.

The University recently became a signatory to the Concordat for the Environmental Sustainability of Research and Innovation Practice, a commitment and shared ambition to embed environmental sustainability in research practice, culture, and approach throughout the signed organisations, and collectively as a sector. Our Silver LEAF accreditation echoes the commitment, marking an important step towards achieving LEAF Gold.

Meet our Silver accreditated labs

We're delighted to share that we've achieved the LEAF Silver award – a real testament to the dedication of our teams who've been working hard to make our laboratories more sustainable. From smarter energy and water use to better waste management, this recognition reflects the practical changes we've been embedding across our research spaces.

This achievement fits into the University's wider ambition to become an environmentally sustainable institution – reducing our carbon footprint, championing sustainable research practices, and using resources more responsibly across Cambridge.

But we see this as a stepping stone rather than a finish line. We're committed to continuing this journey, always looking for new ideas and sharing what works so we can keep improving our environmental performance. It's about doing our bit for the planet while staying true to what we do best: translating world-class research into real interventions that improve health and wellbeing for people everywhere.

Kristian Cressy, Business and Operations Manager, Head of Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge