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.
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. 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.
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 impact of global warming is immensely damaging to health and has a knock-on effect for treatment facilities. These include:
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 can help, offering infection control solutions that are underpinned by sustainability.
Leading the way in infection control innovation for more than 30 years, DDC 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.
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.
[1] https://www.england.nhs.uk/greenernhs/a-net-zero-nhs/