Proof that biomedical research can be sustainable

The University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM) recently welcomed faculty, researchers and other stakeholders to the Wolfson Pavilion to celebrate two years of landmark achievements brought about through its Sustainable Science Initiative (SSI). 

The gathering took place on an unseasonably hot day in winter – an apt setting for an event that aimed to show both the necessity and effectiveness of the various sustainability projects that have been undertaken by the IDM since 2024. 

Focusing on four pillars across green energy, carbon footprinting, green lab certification, and waste and recycling, the event served as evidence that meaningful change is possible when vision is matched with action. 

“Over the past two years, the IDM has shown that world-class research and environmental responsibility are not competing priorities,” said IDM research administration and communications officer, Karabo Mbele, in her opening address. “Together, the initiatives that we have undertaken show what we achieve when we act together to change culture.” 

Setting the stage for change 

There are two components that materially affect the viability of any large-scale sustainability project: an understanding of the baseline performance of an institution and people who are willing to ask how things can be done differently. 

With this in mind, the IDM in 2024 established its SSI with biosafety, research infrastructure, and compliance specialist, Selisha Naidoo, at the helm. The first order of business for Naidoo and the rest of the team was understanding the institute’s existing sustainability measures, including its carbon footprint, water usage and waste generation.  

“For an institute like the IDM, with close to 60 research laboratories, core technology platforms, biorepositories and international collaborations, carbon reporting gives us visibility into the environmental cost of doing science at scale,” Naidoo explained. 

“The solar panels have a kilowatt peak of roughly 174 kWh and, with the 100 kW battery that’s been installed, will save us about 210 000 kWh per annum.”  

“As a result, the IDM conducted its first carbon footprint assessment with the 2023 financial year in focus. This was done in accordance with the internationally recognised greenhouse gas protocol corporate standards, considering Scope 1, Scope 2, and relevant Scope 3 emissions.” 

Results indicated that the institute’s total carbon footprint for 2023 was approximately 8 million kilograms of carbon dioxide – an output comparable to the energy consumption of about 1 700 South African homes over the same period. 

Here, indirect emissions (Scope 3) accounted for the majority, with business travel, upstream fuel activities, construction activities, equipment procurement, water, waste and food accounting for more than 50% of the total sum. Purchased electricity (Scope 2) contributed the single largest emissions source at 35% alone, while direct emissions (Scope 1) produced mainly by diesel-powered generators and refrigeration gasses made up the remainder. 

Two years of measurable impacts 

In the two years since its initiation, the SSI has worked to identify and action key projects that have helped to move the IDM towards a more sustainable future. 

One such project is the installation of a water cooler in the Wolfson Pavillion Foyer. This energy efficient “hydration station” uses a natural refrigerant, produces 86% less carbon dioxide emissions compared to bottled water and is projected to keep around 100 000 plastic bottles from going to landfills each year. 

The IDM has also introduced an extensive recycling programme, with eight hubs across the institute that take clean paper and cardboard, glass, plastic, batteries, printer cartridges, and other general recyclables. 

Through a partnership with laboratory vendor LASEC, the IDM collects plastic pipette tip boxes, polystyrene boxes and gel cooling packs for recycling and repurposing. Its collaboration with Sweethearts Foundation, a South African non-profit organisation that collects and recycles small plastic items such as bottle caps, coffee cup lids and bread tags, helps to fund wheelchairs. 

“We are not only the first academic research institute in Africa to have pursued and attained this certification, but also that we are a fully My Green Lab-certified institute.” 

Additionally, the institute has installed a solar PV system on the roof of the Falmouth building. The setup is projected to produce approximately 210 000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of power per year, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by around 190 000 kilograms. 

“The solar panels have a kilowatt peak of roughly 174 kWh and, with the 100 kW battery that’s been installed, will save us about 210 000 kWh per annum. This is quite significant in terms of financial savings, coming to [approximately] R500 000 worth of savings annually,” said Manfred Braune, the director of Environmental Sustainability at UCT.  

While these projects and their potential impacts are certainly impressive, the one that stands is the My Green Lab Certification. Since launching the lab sustainability programme, 56 labs across the institute have been recognised for their environmentally friendly transformations across procurement, energy, water management, recycling and other practices. 

“Every single laboratory and core technology platform at the IDM that registered has successfully achieved My Green Lab Certification,” said Naidoo. 

“That means that we are not only the first academic research institute in Africa to have pursued and attained this certification, but also that we are a fully My Green Lab-certified institute. These milestones have also placed us as the largest My Green Lab-certified cluster of labs on the continent.” 

Proof of concept 

For professorial director of the IDM, Professor Digby Warner, the SSI and its successes show that true sustainability is about more than environmental impact. 

“Sustainability has many meanings in the research context – not only in the environmental sense but also in terms of financial sustainability in the face of growing challenges around research funding, as well as the development of future research leaders,” he said. 

“One of the key messages from this afternoon’s event is that we have to be cognisant of the fact that the research we do has an environmental impact and that strong environmental and sustainability awareness can allow streamlining and increased efficiency in our operations. 

“The partnerships that we’ve developed across the university have enabled the achievement of these impressive milestones.” 

“Another is the necessity of strong partnerships. The IDM hasn’t done this alone and the partnerships that we’ve developed across the university – from UCT’s Environmental Sustainability Office to Properties and Services – have enabled the achievement of these impressive milestones.” 

The dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Professor Lionel Green-Thompson, agreed, emphasising that sustainability should be treated as a cultural value and that dialogue of this kind turns the concept into practical, achievable action. 

“We so often position climate and environmental awareness as a ‘nice-to-have’ activity, but what this event has done very strongly for me is say that sustainability is cultural. We can be excellent in research, and we can do it in a way that’s sustainable,” he noted. 

“These types of conversations energise change by translating the idea of sustainability into a lived experience. That creates impact. It teaches us that while it might not be easy to do, it is possible and, if we do it consciously, we can get very far.”