New world-class lab accelerates green material research

In a move designed to speed up innovation in low-carbon, circular and bio-based materials, the University of East London (UEL) has launched the London Sustainability Materials Lab (LSML), a leading-edge facility that combines advanced testing with hands-on fabrication.

Part of UEL’s world-leading Sustainable Research Institute, LSML helps circular, bio-based and low-emission materials reach industry faster by offering researchers, students and innovators an integrated route from early concept to working prototype.

Arriving at a time of mounting pressure to reduce emissions and waste, the LSML provides access to specialist equipment rarely available outside major industrial labs. Its unified setup means new materials can be developed, analysed and refined in one location, accelerating progress without the costs typically associated with high-end research centres.

The lab, located in the Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability at the university’s Docklands Campus, features an extensive range of processing and analytical tools alongside a digital fabrication workshop. This supports work on bio-based composites, reclaimed industrial by-products, low-carbon alternatives to conventional materials, and new solutions for construction, packaging and environmental remediation.

The facility will be open to students, external partners, SMEs and community groups, creating opportunities for collaboration across disciplines and sectors. This inclusive approach ensures that ideas do not remain confined to academic settings but progress towards real-world use.

Senior Research Fellow Dr Bamdad Ayati, who leads the facility, said, 

LSML builds on our long-standing academic and industry partnerships and strengthens the knowledge exchange that has driven our work in sustainable materials.”

He added, “We want to give SMEs and independent innovators a clear route from early lab work to working prototypes by providing access to equipment and expertise they often cannot reach.”

UEL is leading the way in sustainable construction, driving forward research and material innovations with the potential to reshape the built environment. Recent breakthroughs include Sugarcrete®, an award-winning low-carbon alternative to traditional concrete made from waste sugarcane fibres, alongside pioneering work in circular design, waste-derived aggregates and high-performance bio-based composites. The LSML strengthens this leadership by providing a dedicated space where multidisciplinary teams can transform early-stage ideas into real-world solutions.

“Our approach begins with fundamental research to understand materials and their behaviours so we can add real value when these solutions are taken into practice.” Dr Ayati said.