Sustainability Universität Heidelberg Successful with Three Sustainability Projects in BWGreenLabs Ideas Competition

Three sustainability projects at Heidelberg University are receiving funding in the context of the BWGreenLabs ideas competition initiated by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research and Arts. The goal of these initiatives is to systematically record the consumption and disposal data in selected university laboratories. Over time, that should significantly reduce the energy and resources consumed in operational research. The three projects are initially being supported for a year with funds totaling approximately 80,000 euros.

The initiatives selected for BWGreenLabs include projects by the Institute for Molecular Systems Engineering and Advanced Materials, the Centre for Organismal Studies and Central Services Neuenheimer Feld. By participating in the state’s ideas competition Heidelberg University shows its commitment to sustainability in research. The Heidelberg Centre for the Environment and the Rectorate supported the applications of the three institutions.

The project “Smart Green Labs – Data-Based Solutions to CO₂ Reduction in Laboratory Operations” is going ahead at the Institute for Molecular Systems Engineering and Advanced Materials (IMSEAM) under the leadership of Prof. Dr Eva Blasco. It aims to detail resource consumption in laboratory work and, on the basis of this data, achieve an optimum reduction of related carbon emissions without substantially impairing the research activities. The team around Eva Blasco wants to develop a method that is transferable to other research institutions working experimentally and so create a general approach to reducing the carbon footprint of research operations. 

The project “Glass Institute – Transparent Resource Usage through Digital Documentation and Networking” is based at the Centre for Organismal Studies (COS). Prof. Dr Suat Özbek and his team are working to develop a platform enabling a transparent, sustainable and joint use of resources within COS. A central, intuitively operable software solution will be used to digitally record and document existing devices, chemicals and biological reagents together with the research infrastructure, and make them available to all COS staff. The aim is to avoid resource wastage, prevent double procurement and foster cooperation within the center. 

The third successful initiative bears the title “Analysis and Optimization of Procurement Channels with Respect to any Remnant Packaging Materials and their Environmental Impacts”. This transformation project at Heidelberg University falls under the responsibility of Georg Maier, head of administration of Central Services Neuenheimer Feld, and it aims to systematically record the packaging incurred in the procurement of consumer goods in pilot facilities. This data is to be used to develop optimization potential for procurement processes from the angles of sustainability. Central Services makes laboratory and services available for research purposes on the Im Neuenheimer Feld campus.

The science ministry first launched the BWGreenLabs ideas competition in March 2025. Eligible to participate were universities, universities of applied science and cooperative universities located in Baden-Württemberg. Each institution was able to submit up to three project applications. Heidelberg University is receiving funding for all three sustainability projects. In all, the ministry has approved 29 projects at 14 universities in the state. After a one-year trial phase, the best three approaches are to be awarded 100,000 euros each, implemented at the respective universities and publicized state-wide as examples of best practice.