The NHS underpins the health of our nation – but without a clear path to reduce CO2 emissions, the health of our planet remains under threat.

‘Net zero’ means that there is no change in the level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, because whatever is emitted is also taken out or offset by an equal amount. This strategy is at the heart of the NHS’ promise to clean up its climate pollutants and contribute to a greener world.

While the NHS leads the charge on a transformative journey towards environmental stewardship, individual hospitals across the UK are striving to adjust their operations to match this vision. Aiming to drastically reduce their carbon footprints, net zero strategies – often called ‘Green Plans’ – are key to combating climate-related health threats by implementing goal-driven measures to reduce healthcare carbon emissions to net zero.

 

 

Green Plans touch on the entirety of the healthcare operation, from the bedside to the supply chain. Working with the right partners is key to facilitating these plans successfully.

It’s now more important than ever for procurement teams to collaborate with vendors they can trust. With sustainability so high on the agenda, choosing suppliers who can guarantee that their products and services adhere to high sustainability standards is a must.

This is why so many healthcare facilities are choosing to work with eco-conscious suppliers like the sluice room specialists at DDC Dolphin. By making their sustainability objectives clear, the proactive engagement of these suppliers is indispensable to the NHS' net zero targets .

Given that the NHS accounts for approximately 40% of public sector emissions in England, the buy-in of every trust, provider and worker is crucial.

 

When it comes to achieving net zero, the NHS has two clear targets to meet.

The first is the NHS Carbon Footprint[1], which covers the emissions that the NHS controls directly (such as facilities, anaesthetics, and fleet vehicles). Their goal is to achieve net zero by 2040.

The second is the NHS Carbon Footprint Plus, which covers the emissions that the NHS can influence (such as those embedded in the supply chain). Here, the aim is to achieve net zero by 2045.

To help the NHS lower carbon emissions and implement this national strategy at the local level, the 2021/22 NHS Standard Contract stated that trusts must create a Green Plan to show their methods of cutting down their emissions.

With the help of the Greener NHS programme, hospitals are jumping to action, with plans covering a huge scope of areas including clinical activities, procurement, facilities management, and even community engagement. Each strategy is underpinned by sustainable practices that range from minimising the use of harmful anaesthetics to committing to 100% renewable energy sources.

 

 

The impacts are circular. They will ease the burden on the NHS, too.

The impact of global warming is immensely damaging to health and has a knock-on effect for treatment facilities. These include:

• Increased Patient Loads. The world is getting warmer, which increases the frequency of heatwaves – which are also hotter and longer. This results in more people suffering from heat-related problems such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Also, higher temperatures can make chronic diseases such as heart and lung diseases worse, leading to more people needing urgent care and hospitalisation.

 

• Spread of Infection. Warmer temperatures can enhance the survival and proliferation of pathogens, increasing the risk of spreading infections - particularly those transmitted through contact with contaminated surfaces and equipment. As a result, hospitals can become more susceptible to HCAI outbreaks.

 

• Public Health Emergencies. More frequent emergencies from extreme weather and disease outbreaks require rapid healthcare responses.

 

• Operational Costs. The influx of emergencies and infections will increase the strain on NHS budgets. Extra costs include additional staff, extended patient stays, specialist cleaning, and the necessity for more intensive use of personal protective equipment and other infection control resources.

 

We all benefit from lower carbon emissions. However, the Green Plan initiatives show how challenging it is to reach sustainability, especially considering the diversity and scale of healthcare activity.

 

Hospitals need to balance high-quality medical care with low environmental impact, which requires working with suppliers that have the same interest – especially if they are to meet the NHS target of NHS Carbon Footprint Plus, which hinges on the supply chain.

DDC Dolphin can help, offering infection control solutions that are underpinned by sustainability.

Leading the way in infection control innovation for more than 30 years, DDC Dolphin products are carefully designed to help healthcare facilities to not only keep patients and clinicians safe, but achieve their sustainability goals.

Our advanced pulp macerators, bedpan washers, and other advanced products are engineered to offer leading-edge performance while promoting environmental stewardship. By optimising resource use and minimising waste, our solutions help facilities not only meet but exceed their green targets.

 

 

DDC Dolphin’s market-leading infection control solutions make it easier to reach sustainability objectives by…

 

• Interconnecting your sluice room operations with your wider sustainability goals. Here’s how.
• Reducing microplastics in the environment. Learn more.
• Creating a sustainable solution to single-use care wipes. Read about biodegradable, compostable and flushable Hygenex wipes.
• Equipping healthcare facilities with the most eco-friendly medical pulp macerator on the market. Get to know the Pulpmatic Eco+.
• Producing bedpan washer disinfectors that use advanced temperature control to lower power and water waste. Learn about the Panamatic range.
• Keeping the supply chain as sustainable as possible. Discover our new HQ with an ‘A’ efficiency rating.

The future’s green with DDC Dolphin. Dive into our sustainability achievements in 2023 here.

 

By working with DDC Dolphin, achieving your hospital’s Green Plan goals could be closer than you think.

When collaborating with environmentally conscious suppliers, NHS hospitals are empowered to transform their operational practices and deliver on their promise of high-quality, sustainable care.

Let’s join forces to create a healthier, greener future for all.

Contact the DDC Dolphin team today.