Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust's New Green Plan, Greening with PRIDE, has been approved by its Board of Directors.
The plan sets out the Trust's actions to reduce its carbon footprint over the next two years and to support the national goal of making the NHS net zero by 2045.
Over the last year, the Tust has created new green groups across the organisation and have more than 400 Green Champions.
Greening with PRIDE builds on the Trust's first Green Plan which was published in 2022 to reduce carbon footprint and make sustainability a part of everything we do
The Trust has also removed desflurane, which is the most volatile anaesthetic gas, from its operating theatres.
Further, the Trust is reducing waste by using remanufactured electrophysiology catheters in Cardiology and where appropriate switching from intravenous to oral antibiotics to improve sustainability.
Greening with PRIDE builds on the Trust's first Green Plan which was published in 2022 to reduce carbon footprint and make sustainability a part of everything we do.
Greening with PRIDE outlines our commitment and actions:
- Reduce non-sterile glove use by 50% by May 2026 and reduce clinical waste by 10% by 2026.
- Work with partners to remove piped nitrous oxide from our operations by 2026 and ensure the adequate capture and destruction of Entonox.
- Develop an options appraisal for decarbonising heat by 2025 and replace gas boilers with a more sustainable solution by 2030.
- Deliver a 50% reduction in carbon emissions produced from waste by 2026 by introducing an offensive waste stream.
- Reduce electrical demand by 30% through lifecycle efficiency and other ‘switch off’/demand projects.
- Reduce consumables and eliminate single-use plastics where practical, working to increase sterile services capacity over time.
- Work to reduce meat consumption by 30% by 2032, deliver a new food digestor by March 2026, and use more locally and seasonally sourced food.
Executive Lead for Sustainability, Simon Hackwell, said: "The acceleration of climate change presents a significant health challenge to our population and NNUH will see an increase in patient admissions with climate-related diagnoses. Our responsibility for patient care is not just about the patient in front of us but extends to the wider community we serve and the legacy we wish to leave to our successors."
The Trust has removed desflurane, which is the most volatile anaesthetic gas, from its operating theatres
"The good thing is by embedding sustainability into our Trust we will not only reduce our impact on the environment, but also improve patient outcomes and staff wellbeing as well as provide financial savings."
Sustainability Manager, Ellen Goodwin, added: "With around 4% of the country’s carbon emissions, the NHS has an essential role to play in meeting net zero targets. Our new Green Plan takes us to within four years of NHS England’s ambition to reduce direct emissions by 80% from 1990. Our current estimate suggests that our carbon footprint is still increasing although our efficiency is improving. We are embedding and adapting the way we work to be more informed and responsible consumers."
