My Green Lab
RCSI has demonstrated clear leadership in environmental sustainability through a strategic, evidence-informed approach aligned with the Government of Ireland’s Climate Action Plan.
As part of our institutional commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 51% and improve energy efficiency by 50% by 2030, we have embedded climate action across academic, research, operational, and engagement activities through our Climate Action Roadmap, published in April 2024.
This roadmap supports our strategic plan, Innovating for a Healthier Future, and reflects our mission to advance both human and planetary health.
At the centre of these efforts is the RCSI Green Lab Steering Group, a cross-functional team of researchers, technical officers, and laboratory managers who are leading the transformation of RCSI’s laboratory environments. Laboratories are among the most resource-intensive spaces in any institution, using up to ten times more energy and four times more water than offices, while producing substantial waste. In recognition of this, the steering group has taken a proactive, evidence-based approach to embed sustainable laboratory practices across both teaching and research spaces.
Embedding sustainable practices
In 2023, the steering group initiated RCSI’s partnership with My Green Lab – the global standard for laboratory sustainability and a recognised partner of the UN Race to Zero campaign. Following initial certification of two labs, the team expanded the initiative in 2024, coordinating seven applications across three buildings on RCSI’s Dublin campuses.
Each certification required a baseline environmental assessment, six months of targeted improvement activities, and a final audit in collaboration with the RCSI Estates team. This placed RCSI on track to become the first higher education institution in Ireland to achieve full My Green Lab certification across all eligible labs by December 2024.
By 2025, both the Department of Physiology and Medical Physics and the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences successfully advanced from Platinum to Green Level Certification upon reaccreditation, while the Department of Chemistry, Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Medicine, Education and Research Centre, and Endocrine Oncology Research Group also holds Green Level status.
This is the highest recognition awarded by My Green Lab and reflects the depth of commitment across RCSI’s lab community. With full certification achieved across all teaching and research laboratories, RCSI became the first higher education institution in Ireland to reach this milestone.
These outcomes highlight the leadership of the Green Lab Steering Group and its role in embedding sustainable practice through cross-campus collaboration and continuous improvement.
Collaborative projects
A defining strength of the Green Lab Steering Group’s work has been its alignment with RCSI’s Student Engagement and Partnership (StEP) initiative. StEP has provided a structured framework for empowering students to act as co-creators of institutional change, working alongside technical and academic staff to drive environmental innovation.
Three standout sustainability projects have emerged from this model of collaboration. Together, these initiatives showcase the impact of student-staff partnership in driving environmental, cultural, and operational improvements. StEP has not only elevated student voice in sustainability but embedded it into the operational fabric of the university.
The sustainability projects emerged from this model of collaboration are as follows:
The Polystyrene Recycling Project, co-designed with students in 2023, introduced a dedicated institutional waste stream for lab-generated packaging. In its first year, 440kg of polystyrene was collected and recycled into insulation materials, with the project now expanding to additional campuses.
The initiative not only diverts non-biodegradable waste from landfill but also facilitates its reuse in sustainable construction. Educational resources and awareness activities embedded within the project have helped raise understanding among staff and students about plastic waste, recycling pathways, and sustainable lab practices.
The project supports the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, SDG 13: Climate Action, SDG 4: Quality Education, and SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities by promoting circular economy principles, embedding sustainability education, and contributing to more resilient and resource-efficient urban environments.
The Glove Recycling Initiative (GRIP) is part of a broader glove recycling scheme supported by RightCycle.
Through this initiative, glove recycling practices have been embedded into undergraduate and postgraduate teaching laboratories. As a result, up to 30,000 nitrile gloves per year that would otherwise be sent to landfill or incineration are now being diverted for recycling.
The initiative also serves as a platform for raising awareness among students and staff about laboratory waste streams, contamination risks, and circular waste solutions through signage, glove-tagging systems, and induction training. GRIP contributes to SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, SDG 13: Climate Action, SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, and SDG 4: Quality Education by reducing hazardous waste, supporting climate mitigation, enhancing safety, and embedding sustainability into formal lab education.
The Green Sink Campaign is an awareness initiative targeting the most commonly used chemicals in research laboratories. It supports researchers in correctly identifying which substances can safely go to drain and which require specialised disposal, thereby improving the segregation and management of chemical waste.
The campaign uses colour-coded signage, technician-led briefings, and embedded training materials to build a culture of informed and responsible chemical disposal.
By promoting best practices and reducing improper discharge, the initiative supports SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, and SDG 4: Quality Education through safer chemical handling, improved water protection, and integrated sustainability education in research environments.
Looking to the future
The Green Lab Steering Group is collaborating with the RCSI Energy Management Team to address the classification of laboratories as significant energy users (SEUs). Over the next 12-18 months, the group will lead mini-projects to monitor and reduce lab-based energy consumption, including the installation of submetering in selected labs. This data will support monthly energy tracking and inform long-term sustainability planning.
Beyond the institution, members of the steering group are contributing to wider national and sectoral transformation through active participation in the Irish Green Lab Network and the HSE’s Greener Models of Healthcare Advisory Group. These platforms allow RCSI to share best practice, influence policy, and support sustainability across Ireland’s research and healthcare environments.
By enabling our technical, research, and student leaders to co-create meaningful change, RCSI is embedding sustainability at the heart of laboratory practice.
Through the combined efforts of the Green Lab Steering Group, we are helping lead a transformative shift in how higher education supports climate action, responsible research, and a healthier, more sustainable future.