Sustainability in research

The research sector is taking steps to be part of the solution to the growing climate crisis. Our profession has two responsibilities: first to mitigate our impact on the environment and also to help our customers understand their own impact and recommend solutions.

With growing pressure to consider environmental impacts, the MRS Project Carbon Calculator has now been launched – this new tool is designed to help research agencies reduce their carbon footprint and bring sustainability into every stage of project planning. This calculator will help you:

• Present clear, comparable project options (e.g., bronze, silver, gold) to clients – balancing research needs with carbon emissions
• Showcase your agency’s environmental responsibility in proposals and tenders (including sample text provided within the tool)
• Support internal carbon reporting and reduction strategies by estimating emissions and identifying key impact areas.

The MRS Project Carbon Calculator - see the details and use it here 

"With the launch of the Project Carbon Calculator alongside the MRS Climate Pledge, our industry can now integrate climate considerations into everything we do. As researchers, we have a responsibility to act — and these tools help us measure and reduce our impact. Please explore the calculator and use it whenever possible. Together, we can make a difference!"     

Steve Phillips, Chair of the Sustainability Council and Founder of Zappi

Using the calculator is simple: complete only the fields relevant to your project and use the outputs to compare the environmental impact of different approaches. While the calculator is based on averages and assumptions, it offers a consistent and practical framework for more informed decision-making across the industry.

Whether you’re planning new projects, preparing tenders or developing sustainability strategies, the MRS Project Carbon Calculator can help you and your clients understand the cost to the planet — and make better choices because of it. We encourage you to explore the calculator and begin using it as a guide for more sustainable research.

Thank you to Cint for sponsoring

A big shout to our sponsor Cint without whom it would not have been possible to build and deliver this carbon calculator for the research sector.