Available projects
Discover Living Lab opportunities by exploring our list of current projects, all created to promote sustainability and drive real-world change.
| Project brief | Project overview |
|---|---|
| Fast fashion in halls | This project aims to tackle the issue of excessive fast fashion consumption and packaging waste in student halls at the University of Liverpool by exploring student behaviours, carrying out waste audits, and creating student-led sustainability campaigns to reduce textile waste and encourage more mindful approaches to fashion and waste. |
| Domestic waste on campus | This project aims to improve waste segregation across campus in line with new Simpler Recycling legislation by analysing current disposal behaviours, auditing mis-sorted waste, and trialling practical interventions to boost correct recycling and food waste separation, supporting the University’s target to halve incinerated domestic waste by 2025. |
| Non-hazardous waste in labs | This project aims to support the University of Liverpool’s goal to halve incinerated waste by 2025 by identifying recyclable, non-hazardous materials incorrectly disposed of as hazardous in labs, assessing current practices against best practice, and recommending process improvements and behaviour change initiatives to reduce unnecessary hazardous waste disposal. |
| Rain water harvesting at Ness Gardens | This project explores the feasibility and benefits of implementing a rainwater harvesting system at Ness Botanic Gardens to support sustainable water use, reduce reliance on aging borehole infrastructure, and inform future planning through analysis of water consumption, climate data, legal considerations, and maintenance requirements. |
| Waste in Liverpool City | This project aims to support Liverpool City Region’s zero avoidable waste target by 2040 by investigating student waste behaviours in private accommodation, identifying barriers to proper waste management, and recommending student led solutions to improve recycling and reduce litter beyond university controlled spaces. |
Apply for a Living Lab project
If you're interested in applying for one of the Living Lab projects, please complete the form below and include the following information:
- The name of the project brief you're applying for.
- The relevant module and how it aligns with the project brief.
- How your research will benefit the project and the university's sustainability goals.
Please note:
- These project briefs are designed for academic staff to integrate into formal teaching modules. They offer an opportunity to embed real-world, challenge led work within the curriculum, aligning with existing learning outcomes and teaching schedules.
- Student time commitments are expected to fall within the standard allocation for the module in which the project is delivered.
- Any associated costs for these projects should be covered using existing course or departmental budgets.
- By using these project briefs and data for your module, you are agreeing to the roles and responsibilities outlined within the Roles and Responsibility Matrix.
If you have any questions, please contact the Sustainability team at: sustainability@liverpool.ac.uk
Roles and responsibilities
Explore our Living Labs Role and Responsibility Matrix to learn more about the roles and responsibilities of all key stakeholders involved in the University's Living Lab projects and how they contribute to achieving our sustainability goals.
Data and resources
Explore the key data and reports related to the University's waste and sustainability performance.
- Visit the Waste, Water and Recycling pages to learn about how we manage waste, you can also download our Waste Management Plan.
- Learn about lab waste management and our LEAF accreditation.
- Data for the Estates Management Return up to 2022-23 is publicly available here.
- Explore the Liverpool City Region: Waste Composition Analysis 2021/22.
The table below outlines the greenhouse gas emissions associated with different waste categories for the years 2022-23 and 2023-24, showing both activity data and emissions in CO2 equivalent.
|
Emission Category |
Emission sub-category |
2022-2023 |
2023-2024 |
||
|
Activity data value (tonnes) |
GHG Emissions (tCO2e) |
Activity data value (tonnes) |
GHG Emissions (tCO2e) |
||
|
Scope 3: Waste Generated in operations |
Landfill (construction/skip) |
14.26 |
0.08 |
13.03 |
0.08 |
|
Mixed Recycling |
225.81 |
4.81 |
181.66 |
1.16 |
|
|
Combustion |
910.89 |
19.38 |
770.27 |
4.94 |
|
|
Food and drink waste |
17.31 |
0.15 |
54.55 |
0.48 |
|
|
Cardboard |
57 |
1.21 |
69.44 |
0.45 |
|
|
Confidential waste |
99.37 |
2.11 |
75.61 |
0.48 |
|
|
Green waste |
21.62 |
0.19 |
94.78 |
0.84 |
|
|
Wood |
N/A |
N/A |
3.32 |
0.02 |
|
|
Metal |
N/A |
N/A |
2.67 |
0.02 |
|
|
IT Waste |
105.97 |
2.26 |
39.69 |
0.25 |
|
|
WEEE |
25.495 |
0.54 |
21.97 |
0.14 |
|
|
Clinical |
174.516 |
3.71 |
167.48 |
1.07 |
|
|
Glass |
191.511 |
4.08 |
187.21 |
1.2 |
|
|
Hazardous |
146.12 |
3.11 |
81.47 |
0.52 |
|
|
Sanitary Waste |
20.44 |
0.43 |
26.68 |
0.17 |
|
|
Construction |
969.919 |
20.64 |
456.57 |
2.93 |
|