Sustainability
We want to develop our research institute into an ecologically sustainable and climate-neutral center. This is an important societal commitment as a Leibniz Lung Center and responsible employer in the region. We thereby contribute to the climate protection requirements enshrined in the Climate Protection Act. Our goal is to achieve greenhouse gas neutrality for the institute by 2035 at the latest.
The challenges and potentials of the Research Center Borstel with regard to ecological sustainability and climate neutrality were compiled in an inventory (Figure 1).
Our sustainability guide provides simple suggestions for sustainable action at the Research Center Borstel (Figure 2).
We offer food for thought for all employees and develop solutions to improve climate neutrality and the responsible use of our resources. These are divided into different areas of action:
The Research Center Borstel wants to contribute to the fight against climate change by minimizing the use of carbon-fueled transport, e.g. for business trips, journeys to work and mobility at the center.
The following measures have been defined:
- Business trips: Job ticket, flight compensation, minimum-fly policy, virtual participation in conferences/events
- Travel to work: job ticket, job bike, ride-sharing app, better bus connections
- Mobility in the center: bicycle, e-cars, e-commercial vehicles, charging stations for bicycles and cars
Already achieved:
- Business trips: Job ticket
- Travel to work: job ticket, job bike
- Mobility in the center: eCommercial vehicles, charging stations for bicycles and cars
Planning:
- Business trips: Policy to reduce air travel, CO2 compensation for flights
- Travel to work: Carpooling app in cooperation with Hamburg institutes
- Mobility at the center: e-cars for business trips
The Borsteler Küche - a department of the FZB in which environmental and climate protection as well as sustainability are already taken into account to a large extent
- High hygiene requirements and regular inspections by the health authorities.
- Sourcing from wholesalers where sustainability and climate protection are important issues.
- Preference is given to regional products and retailers, e.g. eggs, drinks (only in glass bottles).
- Daily fresh preparation in the combination unit (steaming and baking) in the Borsteler Herrenhaus kitchen:
- Daily vegetarian offer and salad bar
- Regional barn eggs or free-range eggs
- Fresh or frozen vegetables, generally steamed (higher nutritional value than cooked)
- Use of fresh herbs from the raised bed
- Meat and fish as convenience products
- Convenience products reduced by 75%
- Complete waste separation, greatest possible avoidance of waste
(no disposable crockery, use of old stock).
This working group is made up of volunteers who work on potential energy savings at the FZB and the creation and use of sustainable energy sources. From the disposal of old power guzzlers, to the monitoring of electricity and energy consumption at the center, to large-scale solutions such as supplying the entire center with self-generated solar power. The long-term goal is to create a climate-neutral research facility.
We are currently working on the following projects:
- In a pilot project, the energy consumption of cooling appliances is to be recorded.
- An inventory list of all cooling appliances is being drawn up with the aim of identifying and replacing energy guzzlers.
- As part of the state's energy and climate protection initiative, we are in contact with the Investitionsbank Schleswig-Holstein (IB.SH), which is working with us to develop a concept for the construction of an area photovoltaic system that will be sufficient to power the entire center with green electricity.
Our goal is to establish more efficient processes in the organizational units in order to enable a careful use of valuable resources, e.g. by integrating the logistics department into processes
- Waste avoidance in office and laboratory areas, waste separation
- Printing and copying only when actually needed
- Electronic documents as the norm
- Aim to reduce laboratory plastic: 5.5 million tons worldwide (SZ; 03.01.2020) 2% of global plastic production!
- Separate collection of plastic in laboratory areas (e.g. nitrile gloves, PE containers, polystyrene plates)
- Separate collection of unmixed laboratory plastic, can be implemented e.g. with PAN-Biotech
- Supplement disposal with additional waste codes
- Use of more environmentally friendly pipettes, refill packs, insulated boxes e.g. made of straw Use of glassware instead of plastic if possible
- Minimize the storage of hazardous substances (acids, alkalis, solvents, fuels)
- Purchase all consumables as required
- Consider/reduce water consumption
Further Links:
- LeNa Guideline (Sustainability management in non-university research organizations)
- Sustainability in science
- Sustainability Mission Statement of the Leibniz Association
Contact:
Mail:
Letztes Update: 24.07.2024