Glossary
Plain-language definitions of sustainability terms for research sites.
- Sustainable research certification
- A certification that recognises sustainable practice in research and science settings, based on an assessment against defined criteria.
- Whole-site (site-level) certification
- Certification that covers an entire site or institute rather than a single laboratory or team, so the credential reflects the whole operation.
- Green lab
- A laboratory that reduces its environmental impact through more efficient use of energy, water, equipment and consumables, and better waste and procurement practices.
- ESG
- Environmental, Social and Governance: the framework organisations and investors use to assess sustainability and responsible-business performance.
- Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions
- A way of classifying greenhouse-gas emissions: Scope 1 is direct emissions you control, Scope 2 is from the energy you buy, and Scope 3 is everything else in your value chain, including purchased goods.
- Embodied carbon
- The greenhouse-gas emissions associated with making, transporting and disposing of a product or material, as opposed to the emissions from using it.
- Carbon footprint
- The total greenhouse-gas emissions caused directly and indirectly by an organisation, activity or product, usually expressed as tonnes of CO2 equivalent.
- Net zero
- Cutting greenhouse-gas emissions as far as possible and balancing any remaining emissions with removals, so the net amount added to the atmosphere is zero.
- ULT freezer
- An ultra-low-temperature freezer, typically running at around minus 80 degrees Celsius. They are energy-intensive, so managing them well is a common sustainability priority.
- Fume hood
- A ventilated enclosure that protects users from hazardous fumes. Because it moves large volumes of conditioned air, running it efficiently saves significant energy.
- Single-use plastics
- Plastic items designed to be used once and discarded, common in labs as consumables. Reducing or reusing them is a frequent sustainability target.
- Environmental management system
- A formal framework, such as ISO 14001, for managing and improving an organisation's environmental performance through policy, processes and review.