Implementing sustainable undergraduate laboratories using the IUPAC Guiding Principles of Responsible Chemistry

Abstract

The 2025 IUPAC Guiding Principles of Responsible Chemistry provide an emerging framework for advancing sustainability and responsibility in chemical practice. However, their application within undergraduate teaching laboratories remains limited. This case study reports a curriculum-wide sustainability audit of 25 undergraduate chemistry laboratory modules delivered across Stages 1–3 (undergraduate program years 1–3) at the University College Dublin, School of Chemistry. The assessment integrates the IUPAC Guiding Principles of Responsible Chemistry with the established 12 Principles of Green Chemistry to evaluate laboratory practices, prioritise interventions, and support systematic improvement at the programme scale. Sustainability-relevant features, including solvent selection, hazardous reagents, energy-intensive operations, and waste streams, were mapped using document analysis and stakeholder input from technical officers and teaching staff. A qualitative scoring framework was developed to assess sustainability benefit alongside implementation difficulty, supported by visualisation tools such as heatmaps, interaction networks, and prioritisation matrices. Fifteen targeted interventions were implemented, including protocol optimisation, equipment upgrades, and chemical substitution, resulting in reduced water consumption, waste generation, and reliance on hazardous substances while maintaining experimental integrity.