Assessing carbon emissions of clinical trials
A structured approach to measuring the carbon footprint of clinical trials
Our clinical trial assessment framework was developed with the industry Low Carbon Clinical Trials (iLCCT) Consortium. It’s designed for everyone involved in designing, managing and reporting clinical trials, including suppliers, and underpins our free Clinical Trial Carbon Calculator, so you can run your own assessment.
The Clinical Trials Carbon Assessment Framework
A framework of guidance and tools that are a reference for stakeholders for understanding and reducing the environmental impact of clinical research.
Clinical Trials: Environmental Assessment Method
This is an essential element of the Clinical Trials Carbon Assessment framework for estimating the environmental footprint of a clinical trial.
It uses an activity-based process to sum carbon from a number of separate activities (modules) associated with design, management and operation to estimate the overall carbon footprint (kgCO2e) of a trial. Such calculations can be used to appraise the relative materiality of different activities and guide users to where greatest opportunity exists for reducing the carbon footprint of clinical research.
It can be applied to clinical trials that have been completed, that are partially complete, or that are in the design and planning stage.
When the method is applied in full, it is in alignment with the International Standard for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) (ISO 14044) and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, Product Life Cycle Accounting and Reporting Standard and uses an activity-based approach to calculate the carbon emissions (kgCO2e) of a clinical trial. The method sits behind the Clinical Trial Carbon Calculator.
The Clinical Trial Carbon Calculator has been produced to provide indicative numbers on carbon emissions associated with clinical trials.
How to assess a trial
Follow these six steps to assess the carbon footprint of a clinical trial.
A summary of each step is provided below.
For complete technical guidance including data collection, emission factors, allocation and reporting requirements — refer to the full method document.
1. Identify the trial to be assessed
The calculator can be used before, during, or after a trial, for planning at RFP/protocol stage, for in-flight decision-making, or for retrospective analysis. It supports Phase 1–4 trials sponsored and operated in any geography.
2. Gather data
Use the "Quick Start User Guide" within the calculator to identify what data you'll need. Collect this information before you begin entering it into the calculator. The data needed may come from multiple sources within your organisation.
3. Calculate the carbon footprint
Use the Clinical Trial Carbon Calculator to calculate your clinical trial footprint. Enter primary data for a detailed appraisal, secondary data for a high-level appraisal, or a mix of both. The more primary data you use, the more accurate your footprint calculation will be.
Clinical Trial Carbon Calculator
4. Interpret the results
The calculator output provides your trial's carbon footprint. Use this to identify carbon emission hotspots, understand potential carbon emission reduction opportunities, or learn lessons for future clinical trial design.
5. Explore decarbonisation strategies
Visit the sustainable clinical trials by design page for guiding principles on reducing your trial's emissions. Check our resource library for real-world examples of decarbonisation strategies already in use.
Sustainable clinical trials by design
6. Act and monitor progress
Implement your chosen strategies and track their impact over time. Share your findings with the Sustainable Clinical Trials Community of Practice.
Sustainable clinical trials Community of Practice
