Chemical Engineering labs recognised for excellence in sustainability practices

(l-r) Undergraduate lab team: Dr Mohamed Maher, Dr Umang Shah, Mr Andrew Macey

The undergraduate labs have been commended for their green lab processes.

The Department of Chemical Engineering undergraduate labs have been awarded the very first Green Level certification in the Faculty of Engineering from My Green Lab – the highest level of the award in recognition of the undergraduate lab team's outstanding commitment to sustainable laboratory practices.

My Green Lab is a non-profit organisation that promotes eco-friendly practices in science. The organisation empowers labs to achieve measurable and lasting sustainability improvements without compromising simplicity or accessibility. My Green Lab has partnered with the United Nations High-Level Climate Champions and is named a critical indicator of progress in the United Nations’ 2030 breakthroughs Emission.

The Green Level certification awarded to the undergraduate labs highlights the team's dedication to developing a sustainable mindset by minimising environmental impact while maintaining excellence in teaching. The sustainability efforts were spearheaded by the lab sustainability champions Dr Umang Shah, Dr Mohamed Maher and Mr Andrew Macey, whose leadership and initiatives have played a crucial role in achieving this milestone.

Our strategy equips students with the key skills to lead the way in our community sustainability efforts. Dr Umang Shah Head of Teaching Labs, Department of Chemical Engineering

“Our strategy equips students with the key skills to lead the way in our community sustainability efforts for greener lab practices and a sustainable future”, said Dr Umang Shah, Head of Teaching Labs & Principal Teaching Fellow, Department of Chemical Engineering. 

Dr Mohamed Maher and Mr Andrew Macey, Lab Sustainability Champions, stated: “Working alongside the My Green Lab team has been a rewarding experience, allowing us to highlight the initiatives taken by the lab team. We are committed to fostering a sustainability mindset and look forward to continuing our collaboration with the Imperial community to help achieve Imperial’s roadmap to 2026 and beyond.”

The team has adopted a green approach since 2014 to phase out inefficient processes and replace them with more energy-efficient and sustainable alternatives. This initiative aims to foster a sustainability mindset among the future generation of chemical engineers. As a result of their efforts, they have achieved a significant reduction in water and energy consumption, with more than an 85% decrease in freshwater use and a 60% reduction in energy consumption, leading to a sustainable overall decrease in carbon emissions.

Furthermore, the team is developing systems to generate green energy, further enhancing energy efficiency, and contributing to ongoing Imperial efforts to achieve net zero.

The lab team efforts align with the UK government's ambitious target of 2050 for net zero carbon emissions and Imperial’s sustainability strategy. Building on the sustainability roadmap, the Department of Chemical Engineering is at the forefront of demonstrating sustainability in practice and underpinning Imperial’s sustainability goal is our commitment to operate our labs responsibly.