Elaine reporting that we will struggle to get to net zero without significant change & action from all of us & the supply chains we operate in within health & social care. A good start is to measure carbon footprint & there are resources we can share to help businesses do this

Lorna has advice on what providers can start doing now within building, energy, waste, transport, technology and plastics & chemicals. Even small action such as changing lightbulbs to motion sensor bulbs can make a difference. Start small, but start is her advice!

Joanne Balmer from Oakland Care now joining us. In 2021 Oakland became the first UK care home group to be certified as carbon neutral and provide residential, nursing and dementia care and Joanne has some great advice on what providers can do without significant cost impact

What changes we providers make to create positive impact? Focus on local environmental impact, adapt procurement practices, encourage staff to cycle to work or car share, monitor utility usage to create efficiencies, reduce waste to landfill, upcycle and recycle where practical

Where did Oakland Care's journey start? Staff feedback! Started with Greenmark Level 1, created first Environmental Policy and nominated a green champion to move the focus group wide culminating in Green Committee, first 'Oakland Green Day' and achievement of Greenmark Level 2

More information about how to achieve the Greenmark accreditation can be accessed here greenmark.co.uk/how-it-works/

Sustainability training has since been added into induction programme for new staff and it is one of the business' core values, has a dedicated section in business plan, shared regularly with board and relatives of residents

Continuing plans for Oakland Care include growing sustainability committee, embedding EMS strategy further & making improvements at individual care settings such as creating wildlife gardens, reducing plastic waste, using only zero-hazardous cleaning products among other measures

Main ways to be truly sustainable: your staff & residents are your best assets, not everything costs a lot of money, sustainability central to everything you do & core values, set targets & report against them, let your people keep you accountable

Joanne's final point on how providers can be truly sustainable - remember it's not a project, it's a social movement!

Thanks to our Elaine IHSCM 💚💙🏳️‍🌈, Lorna Devon Care Homes Collaborative & Joanne Oakland Care for fantastic insights & to hosts CMM Magazine 💚. Please contact [email protected] to find out more about NCF's Environmental Sustainability Network nationalcareforum.org.uk/sustainability/