L@B Brief - Nov/Dec 2025
Two more standards to brighten your Christmas
TWO NEW standards have been launched to join the maelstrom of standards for labs or lab suppliers. A standard for sustainability auditors, called, ISSA (UK) 5000 aims to ensure a consistent set of requirements for those providing sustainability assurance.
According to James Hay, a sustainable finance expert with law firm, Pinsent Masons, the new standard is useful for those providing limited assurance.
“Previously auditors have employed slightly different methodologies when carrying out limited assurance over sustainability disclosures. This can complicate matters for companies seeking to implement an audit-ready reporting process. This new standard should help tackle that uncertainty for UK companies, and provide consistency and guidance for UK assurance providers.”
The launch comes at the same time as a move to create more certainty around laboratory environmental measurements.
Many of the current standards set maximum energy use intensity limits (EUI) for science and technology buildings. But a one size fits all EUI is not appropriate for laboratories doing different kinds of science, says Phil Kelly, (partner at consultancy firm Ridge, and Deputy Research and Technical Officer for the UK chapter of the International Institute of Sustainable Laboratories). Phil is particularly focussed on the use of fume cupboards and says that for some types of laboratory, an EUI of 305 kWh/m2/yr will be unattainable, but best practice might be closer to 700 kWh/m2/yr. Others might be able to get as low as 100 kWh/m2/yr.
Until now, there has been very little data to support UK lab operators to make informed, evidence-based decisions, but now the Laboratory Benchmarking Tool hosted by I2SL, has nearly 1,500 buildings in its database.
Operators can now compare energy use, emissions and operational practices of similar facilities, located in similar climates, and even the technical specifications of systems and equipment. This provides much greater clarity around how efficiently they are using energy.
The I2SL launched in the UK earlier this year and is looking for UK operators to get involved, give feedback on the data, and start sharing theirs. You can explore the Laboratory Benchmarking Tool here.
Manufacturers of fume cabinets and other energy-intensive lab equipment might want to take a look!
Toodle pip!
Jacqueline
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