Working together to green critical care

Healthcare’s environmental footprint is a global problem. Many organizations are recognizing that they need to take urgent steps to reduce their impact, whilst planning how to provide holistic care in the future.

In the UK, it’s reported that the National Health Service (NHS) accounts for 4% of the UK’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and is responsible for around 20 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. It is undergoing a journey to be the world’s first net zero health service, with a target of reaching net zero by 2040 for emissions it controls directly and 2045 for emissions it can influence.

But the NHS can’t do this alone, especially as 62% of emissions are identified as ‘Scope 3’ (indirect). To succeed, there must be significant collaboration across the public and private sectors, including suppliers and partners. CDDFT understands that a sustainable future for the Trust and the wider NHS will be one that embraces partnerships and innovation; and identifies ways of driving the highest quality clinical care through environmental improvements.

Philips was the first private-sector organization to approach CDDFT, offer a collaborative hand, and support its aims to become an exemplar Trust for environmental sustainability in human healthcare.

We share a common purpose: to enable sustainable high-quality healthcare that improves, maintains, or restores health; is affordable to all now and in the future; while minimizing negative impacts on the environment.