Taking ‘Sustainable Steps’ with Ben Gray

This time Sian had the chance to sit down with Ben Gray - the founder of Sustainable Steps and former Sustainability Initiatives Coordinator at Imperial College London.

Ben’s journey has taken him from lab benches to leading sustainability programmes, and now to creating his own platform - Sustainable Steps where he shares simple and clear advice on how labs and workplaces can cut waste, save energy, and work towards a greener future. In our chat he opened up about what first sparked his passion for sustainability and why small changes matter, and how his new project is helping people take action one step at a time.

From Imperial to Sustainable Steps

Q: You built a strong foundation in sustainability during your time at Imperial College London, leading programmes like LEAF (Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework) and Green Impact to cut carbon footprints in labs and offices. How did those experiences spark the idea for Sustainable Steps, and what made you want to take what you’d learned beyond institutions and share it with a wider audience?

A: During my time at Imperial, I worked with some incredible lab managers, researchers and members of staff, many of whom clearly excelled in their roles! There was a great motivation from many of them to make their labs and office spaces more sustainable, but they weren’t sure where to start. That’s why I started Sustainable Steps, to give lab members actionable insights to make their labs more sustainable, one step at a time. I realised there were thousands of labs out there who didn’t have the sustainability resources that Imperial had, so knowing I could reach and help a whole range of labs across the private and public sector through Sustainable Steps was a great motivation to start!

The Vision Behind Sustainable Steps

Q: Sustainable Steps is all about giving people clear, practical advice to work more sustainably. When you first started the platform, what did you feel was missing in the way people talk about sustainability, and how are you trying to make that message feel more approachable and useful?

A: There are some fantastic sustainable lab accreditation programmes out there including LEAF, My Green Lab and GILA (Green Impact Laboratory Assessment), and Sustainable Steps is not there to compete with these programmes but to support them. With these programmes, there are fantastic big goals for labs to aim for, but I found that the steps to get there were where labs needed support, and that’s where Sustainable Steps comes in! Pulling together successful case studies from other labs, and breaking down big goals into step by step how-to guides through blogs, workshops, newsletters and LinkedIn content is how we’re making sustainability accessible for all labs.

Engaging and Empowering Audiences

Q: You’ve seen the challenges in shifting everyday habits in labs and offices. What’s worked best for you when it comes to encouraging people to try new, greener ways of working?

A: I believe it is really important to make sustainability fun in your lab and office space. The reality of the need for sustainability is naturally a deep and challenging topic, so making the actions you can take as enjoyable as possible (especially in a busy workplace such as a lab) can really make a difference in shifting habits for the whole team. However, I think it is also really important to add that to get people on board with the idea of changing habits in the lab, you’re likely going to need to approach the change from multiple angles. Sustainability and cutting carbon is not going to be motivational for everybody (as much as I would love it to be!). Selling the changes, where applicable, as cost saving exercises or process efficiencies in your lab can help to broaden the reasons why your team members will want to get involved, both in the short and long term.

Q: When people do get on board, what kind of reactions or changes have you noticed that keep the momentum going?

A: The buzz and the joy of being able to make real change. Making environmental savings in the lab is so impactful, given the scale of the problem we face in labs. The quantification is a really important part when any changes and savings are made, as this can help to keep that ball rolling. I must also highlight that having a defined goal to aim for (such as LEAF accreditation) often drives labs towards success and keeps the long term motivation going.

4. Support Along the Way

Q: You’ve worked with lots of different sustainability projects and tools. Are there any organisations that you’ve found especially helpful in turning ideas into real impact?

A: Accreditation schemes including LEAF, My Green Lab and GILA are certainly a vital part of the sustainable lab journey. These schemes really help to motivate and define the goals that labs should be aiming for, and Sustainable Steps’ work is always aligned to the goals that those accreditation schemes set. Networks are super important as well. Here in the UK we have (the newly renamed) UK Network for Sustainable Research (UKNSR), which brings together sustainable lab advocates from across the UK to learn from one another. I must also add how impactful UniGreenScheme has been across this sector too, with lots of UK universities endorsing the platform, it is really helping to tackle an equipment problem that many labs need support with.

5. Looking Ahead

Q: What’s the next ‘step’ for you and Sustainable Steps, are there any projects or collaborations you’re especially excited about?

A: There is a lot coming in the near future! We’ll soon be launching a revamped Sustainable Lab Solutions series on YouTube, where I will dive into the companies designing sustainable lab products and services to discover how they can really help labs to act more sustainable. We’re also launching online and in-person workshops to bring fun and education to lab sustainability, and I am so looking forward to talking directly with lab members. I’m connecting with more and more people from across the globe who are leading the charge for more sustainable labs, and that keeps me motivated and excited to build Sustainable Steps to help them in any way it can.

Q: Looking at the bigger picture, what’s your hope for how the platform might inspire change in labs, workplaces, or even everyday life?

A: Sustainable Steps is all about breaking down the big goals into actionable steps, so my hope for the platform is that we can encourage those who find the prospect of sustainability overwhelming, to start off with one simple step. Whether that is starting a green team, closing fume hood sashes, or buying one piece of equipment second hand. That same mindset can be taken into sustainability in the workplace and indeed in everyday life.

Ben’s story is a reminder that meaningful sustainability often begins with simple achievable steps, and that any lab can start right where they are. Through Sustainable Steps he is helping people turn big environmental goals into everyday actions, and we’re proud to champion that mission at UniGreenScheme. By giving equipment a second life and reducing waste across the sector we are part of the same growing community showing that greener labs are not only possible but already taking shape.

If Ben’s journey has inspired you to think differently about how your lab could work more sustainably, we would love to support your next step.

Get in touch to discover how UniGreenScheme can help your lab create real, lasting impact.