The Environmental Sustainability team is supporting a substantial scaling of LEAF across the University.
Which bodies require sustainability accreditation?
From late 2025, Wellcome and Cancer Research UK (CRUK) will require sustainability accreditation for funding eligibility. LEAF accreditation is accepted as evidence of laboratory sustainability.
- Wellcome (The Wellcome Trust)
- Cancer Research UK (CRUK)
Later this year, research groups with wet labs receiving funding from these bodies will be required to obtain Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF) certification as a prerequisite for new funding or to maintain preexisting funding streams.
Choosing the correct accreditation level
- Wellcome: Minimum Bronze LEAF accreditation is required for all new and existing funding applications.
- CRUK: Minimum Silver LEAF accreditation is required for new funding applications.
Choosing between group, collective or building-wide submission
- In the past, research groups could only submit LEAF as an individual group.
- This year, we recognise that there may be greater demand for flexible submission options.
- This is why we are introducing collective and building-wide submission options to Oxford.
- With collective and building-wide submissions, groups can now buddy up with other groups and submit a LEAF award as a combined unit. These are termed collective submissions.
Please note:
- Groups can only buddy up with other groups in their department.
Departments, divisions, and users will need to request permission to start a building-level submission.
Information for new starters
Groups that join the University of Oxford after the 2025 submission window will be granted a temporary exemption from LEAF compliance. New starters will be required to become LEAF compliant in the 2026 LEAF submission window.
Compliance information
The funding bodies will accept LEAF certificates as evidence of laboratory sustainability if awarded in the past 3 years. In 2025 certificates will be valid if issued in 2023 or 2024. Under current guidance LEAF certificates will need to be renewed every 3 years. Current LEAF award holders will be published on the LEAF Award Winner page to see which labs were accredited and when.
