A team from the UCD School of Veterinary Medicine has been awarded first place in the British Society of Veterinary Pathology (BSVP) Green Labs Competition 2024–2025. The competition recognises and celebrates laboratories across the UK and Ireland undertaking impactful sustainability initiatives.
The winning project, titled “Chemical Recycling at the UCD School of Veterinary Medicine: A Preliminary Cost-Benefit Analysis,” was led by Alison Lee with Susan Peters, Ruth O'Connell, Daniel O'Sullivan, Mary Sekiya, and Damien Bradley, focused on analysing the use and disposal of formalin and solvents in laboratory settings. The project aimed to investigate potential options for the recycling and reuse of these chemicals, assess the financial and environmental costs involved, and evaluate the feasibility of implementing sustainable practices within the School.
Alison and her team examined detailed records of chemical purchases and disposal, consulted with three international companies offering recycling solutions, and engaged stakeholders across the School to explore practical pathways toward greener laboratory operations.
Alison said:
“I feel that this project was overall successful. My team and I now have a better
understanding of the current fate of these chemicals in our lab, the financial cost of
purchase and disposal, and the options for recycling. We also better understand the
considerations if we decide to move forward with the purchase of a recycling system.
This project also heightened our awareness of these chemicals and we have
discussed how to reduce the use of formalin in the postmortem room.”
The judging panel commended the project for its robust methodology, thoughtful engagement with the business case for sustainability, and its potential to serve as a model for similar initiatives. Judges praised the project as “a great example of practical, real-world sustainability in action,” and noted its value in highlighting how financially-justified approaches can unlock sustainability progress in complex environments.
In recognition of this outstanding work, the UCD team will receive a £500 prize to be reinvested in further sustainability efforts. The project will also be presented at a future BSVP meeting and featured in the Sustainability section of the BSVP website.
We extend our warmest congratulations to Alison Lee and everyone involved in this project. This is a significant achievement that reflects UCD Vet Med's strong commitment to sustainability, innovation, and leadership in veterinary science.