Environmental Sustainability Policy

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Environmental Sustainability Policy

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Introduction

In 2014 NHS England and Public Health England published their Sustainable Development Strategy for the Health and Social Care System 2014 – 2020. In this document they described their vision of a sustainable health and care:

'A sustainable health and care system works within the available environmental and social resources protecting and improving health now and for future generations. This means working to reduce carbon emissions, minimising waste & pollution, making the best use of scarce resources, building resilience to a changing climate and nurturing community strengths and assets.'

The strategy outlines the challenge to continually improve health and wellbeing and deliver high quality care now and for future generations within available financial, social and environmental resources.

This policy outlines procedures and responsibilities within First 4 Health Group (F4HG) for environmental sustainability in line with this vision.

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Purpose and Objectives

The Sustainable Development Unit describes how a sustainable health and care system is achieved by delivering high quality care and improved public health without exhausting natural resources or causing severe ecological damage.

F4HG acknowledges that its activities do have an impact on the environment. This policy provides a 'statement of intent' committing F4HG to improve environmental performance. We will ensure that effective environmental management and sustainable development becomes an integral part of our day to day activities, to reduce this impact as much as possible.

F4HG recognises the importance of good environmental performance. Key benefits will be to minimise the impact on local health, reduce pollution, achieve greater energy resilience, deliver cost savings and to contribute to a sustainable environment locally and nationally.

This policy serves to indicate how issues concerning environmental sustainability should be managed within F4HG.

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Duties and Responsibilities

The F4HG Contract Holders holds overall responsibility for the organisation’s environmental sustainability policy.

The F4HG Chairman Dr Bhupinder Kohli will lead and oversee the process of the implementation of this policy, as well as monitoring its compliance and effectiveness.

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Commitments

Working with partner organisations as appropriate, F4HG is committed to:

Seeking to play its part in reduction of carbon emissions in line with NHS targets, and to achieve targets set out by the NHS Sustainable Development Unit. These will include an objective a 2% year-on-year reduction in carbon usage.
Using digital communication primarily
Using energy efficient light bulbs wherever appropriate
Maintaining comfortable room temperatures when in use and switching off when not
Pursuing a target of a 2% year-on-year reduction in waste. This will be achieved in part by rigorous attention to separation of waste, with recycling taking place whenever possible.
Ensuring legal compliance relating to the storage and disposal of hazardous products
Procurement of new items will promote local buying whenever possible. Lifecycle costs will be considered at all times in order to reduce indirect carbon emissions.
A water conservation strategy in order to conserve resources. This will include minimising the use of bottled water.
Procedures for cleaning and building maintenance that reduce any adverse impact on the environment (for example, cleaning chemical, timber, floor finishes and cement).
Achievement of all legislative requirements concerning environmental sustainability will be adhered to, as well as complying with guidance from local and national NHS sources.
Dealing only with organisations that have high welfare standards
Training staff on our environmental practises.

Procedures

F4HG and its staff/Associates will cooperate with any established procedures designed to implement the principles outlined in Section 4 above.

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Audit

Performance against the above commitments will be audited on an annual basis and reported to the Contract Holders to ensure compliance and progress.

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Delivering a net zero NHS

Identifying a route to net zero emissions for a complex system as large as the NHS is particularly challenging. To understand how and when the NHS can reach net zero we established an NHS Net Zero Expert Panel, reviewed nearly 600 pieces of evidence submitted to us and conducted extensive analysis and modelling.

The targets set are as ambitious as possible, while remaining realistic; and are supported by immediate action and a commitment to continuous monitoring, evaluation and innovation.

Our aim is to be the world’s first net zero national health service.

We have set two targets:

For the emissions we control directly (the NHS Carbon Footprint), we will reach net zero by 2040, with an ambition to reach an 80% reduction by 2028 to 2032;
For the emissions we can influence (our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus), we will reach net zero by 2045, with an ambition to reach an 80% reduction by 2036 to 2039.

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