I have always been passionate about sustainability from running jumble sales and second-hand swaps to spread the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) in my community, to driving new initiatives at work. For me, sustainability has never been separate from my professional journey. Instead, it has become a natural extension of my personal values.
Working in the start-up world can be hectic and full-on, especially in science where every hour counts. But sometimes, inspiration strikes when you least expect it. For me, it was during a seminar run by the University of Oxford’s Environmental Sustainability team. They spoke about the Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF), their wider environmental initiatives, and why these efforts matter.
That was the turning point. I knew we had to begin preparing for our first LEAF submission.
From Bronze to Gold
Starting out was not easy. As a small team already at full capacity, taking on an additional challenge required energy and commitment. I decided to lead the initiative, bringing together colleagues from the lab, computational, and office teams to make it happen. With limited time, we managed to achieve LEAF Bronze certification in our very first year.
But we didn’t stop there. The following year, we set our sights higher aiming for Gold. It wasn’t an easy journey. What made it possible was the collective spirit: coming together with like-minded colleagues, forming our sustainability team, and engaging everyone across the company to embrace better practices.
Building a Culture of Sustainability
Sustainability isn’t only about science or audits; it’s about culture. Alongside improving our lab practices, we ran a sustainability workshop to share our story and invite others to take part. Seeing people from different teams, and even other tenants at the BioEscalator, come together to exchange ideas and coordinate efforts has been deeply rewarding.
LEAF has played a vital role in this journey. By encouraging labs to run their own audits, learn from one another, and share best practices, LEAF fosters a stronger, greener community that extends far beyond one lab or one company.
Beyond the Lab: Supporting Our Community
Our commitment to sustainability also extends to supporting those around us. LastDecember, we organised a Christmas Donation Drive with Oxford MutualAid; collecting food, clothes, toys, and other essentials for families acrossOxford. It was heartwarming to see our community come together once again, showing that sustainability is not only about reducing waste but also about sharing, caring, and supporting one another.
Every Step Counts
Our Gold certification this year is not just a recognition of effort — it’s proof of what can happen when people trust each other, work together, and commit to change. It may not sound like a massive leap in the global fight against climate change, but every small step contributes to reducing our carbon footprint and building momentum.
And we are not stopping here. We continue to look for ways to improve our practices and aim for more globally recognised certifications, such as My Green Lab, while learning and seeking out more sustainable options to embed into everything we do.
I’m proud to have been part of building this community, achieving Gold with the help and support of my colleagues, and sharing our progress with the wider BioEscalator community alongside William.
Because in sustainability, every step; no matter how small; counts.
If you’d like to join us on this journey, share ideas, or brainstorm together, we would love to hear from you.
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