Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust has taken a significant leap towards a sustainable future with paper-focused initiatives.
These initiatives not only resulted in substantial financial savings but also reduced its carbon footprint and enhanced document accessibility.
The paper reduction and cost savings journey of the Trust has spanned over a number of years. The journey started with multi-functional printing devices that reduced the number of pages required for each job.
Following a successful trial period, the Trust has begun a contract with NHS Supply Chain.
The Trust will now use unbleached paper for internal printing.
The benefits of moving to recycled paper include a £10,000 per year cost saving
Unbleached paper is not only better for the environment but helps alleviate visual stress for those who find it difficult to read the stark contrast of black writing on white paper.
The hospital is also collaborating with Cerner to transition patient communications over to the new paper as soon as possible.
The benefits of moving to recycled paper include a £10,000 per year cost saving and a reduction in over 38,000kg of CO2 at the Trust alone.
This is the equivalent to the CO2 emissions produced from charging 4,622,421 smartphones or the amount of carbon absorbed by 628 young trees over 10 years.
Further, the Trust’s procurement team also explored a number of other opportunities to make environmental savings.
Including implementing the electronic Docusign system, which reduced carbon emissions by a further 2,113lbs, the equivalent of 2 trees and over 4000 sheets of paper in 2023.
With the NHS’ greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions accounting for 4.4% of the UK’s total GHG emissions in 2019, there is a recognised need across the sector to reduce its carbon footprint.
Paul Simpson, Deputy Chief Executive of Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust and lead for the Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust green plan, said: “We are committed to reducing our carbon footprint in a way that benefits our patients, our staff Trust and our planet. Each initiative like this shows what we can do, even if it means changing how we work and what we use."
"Those initiatives add up to become a significant contribution to the Trusts’ green plan goals, which we look forward to improving with every new contract signed,” Simpson added.
With the NHS’ greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions accounting for 4.4% of the UK’s total GHG emissions in 2019, there is a recognised need across the sector to reduce its carbon footprint.
By 2040 the NHS is aiming to become net-zero.