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Green Plan

Aspiring to provide sustainable healthcare 

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A Greener future for CLCH, our patients and communities

The Delivering a Net Zero National Health Service report highlighted the impacts of climate change. Without immediate action, we risk seeing an increase in major diseases, worsening mental health, and disruptions to patient care. The report outlines clear trajectories and actions for the entire NHS to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2045. 

At CLCH, we are fully committed to reducing our environmental impact and providing sustainable healthcare to ensure better health for future generations.

We have formed a strategic partnership with West London NHS Trust to focus on sustainability and the delivery of the NHS net zero plan. By working together, the two trusts are better positioned to tackle common challenges. The sustainability team operates as a shared partnership, with each trust maintaining its own executive Senior Responsible Officer (SRO) and sustainability committee. At CLCH, the Senior Responsible Officer for sustainability is Jenny Greenshields, Chief Finance Officer and Director of Corporate Service.

Sustainability is integral to CLCH’s Healthy Neighbourhoods, Thriving Communities strategy and embedded within one of the Trust’s four strategic priorities: delivering sustainable services that we are proud of. It supports seamless, preventative care closer to home, improved health and wellbeing outcomes, and reduced environmental impact. Sustainability is closely linked to prevention, health inequalities and staff wellbeing, as climate change disproportionately affects vulnerable communities.

Our Green Plan

Welcome to Greener CLCH 2024-26, our second Trust-wide Green Plan. It outlines our progress up to 2023 and reaffirms our commitment to reducing our environmental impact. As part of the “For a Greener NHS” programme, every Trust and Integrated Care System is required to develop a Green Plan that covers the following areas of focus:

  • Leadership, governance, and workforce
  • Sustainable Models of Care
  • Digital transformation
  • Medicines
  • Food and nutrition
  • Supply chain and procurement
  • Estates and Facilities
  • Travel and Transport
  • Adaptation

Read the CLCH Green Plan 2024-26 (pdf)

CLCH Green Plan 2024-26 - Addendum September 2025 (pdf) 

Learn how CLCH is building  resilience to climate change, including extreme weather events and rising temperatures: Climate Adaptation Plan 2025-27.

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Delivering a net zero NHS sets out new targets for carbon reduction as well as a methodology for classifying carbon emissions. At CLCH we are on track to:

  • Reduce the emissions under our direct control by 47% compared with current levels by 2028 to 2032
  • Reduce the emissions we can influence by 73% compared to current levels by 2036 to 2039

 The Trust’s NHS Carbon Footprint (direct emissions) for 2025-26 was 4,204 tonnes CO2e. This represents a 13% reduction from the 2024/25 figure of 4,825 tonnes CO2e which is an excellent result for one year. It also represents a 26% reduction from the 2019/20 baseline which means we are on target to reach Net Zero by 2040.

Building energy accounts for 84% of these emissions. Business travel is the next highest category at 15%

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The NHS Carbon Footprint Plus, which also includes supply chain emissions, is estimated to add an additional 35,595 tonnes CO2e according to our most recent assessment for 2024-25. A breakdown of the greatest emissions can be seen in the pie chart below with purchased clinical services, landlord rent and IT services being the biggest contributors.

 

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Following the assessment of the Trust's NHS Carbon Footprint carbon emissions, several pathway options were considered to achieve the net zero target. In November 2021, the Board approved an aspirational pathway with early investment and higher cumulative carbon savings. This reflects CLCH’s commitment to demonstrating strategic leadership in response to the urgency of the climate crisis. The chart below shows our net zero pathway for emissions under our direct control. 

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We are committed to deliver sustainability through strong leadership, staff engagement, training and collaboration across the Trust. The Trust has:

  • Established a joint Sustainability Team with West London NHS Trust.
  • Established a Green Champions Network now with over 160 Green Champions across the Trust.
  • Launched a bespoke training module, “Introduction to Sustainability in Healthcare” which has been delivered to over 200 staff.
  • Launched two e-learning modules: “Environmentally Sustainable Healthcare – Building a Net Zero NHS” and “Environmental Sustainability in Quality Improvement,” produced by NHS England.
  • Launched the Sprout engagement platform, generating over 7,000 sustainable actions.
  • Integrated sustainability into the CLCH corporate induction and the statutory mandatory training booklet.
  • Achieved 88% staff satisfaction with Green Plan delivery.
  • Developed a marketplace on the Trust intranet for staff to exchange or sell unwanted items, reducing waste and promoting behaviour change.

We will continue to engage and train our staff, empowering them to take environmental action in their work, develop their own projects and champion best practice within their teams.

We will embed sustainability into clinical services for carbon and waste reduction and to improve patient care.

The Trust has:

  • Established a Net Zero Clinical Transformation Group
  • Launched the Gloves Off Campaign, promoting better practices and reducing waste
  • Trialled reusable tourniquets to reduce singe use waste
  • Introduced projects to reduce nitrous oxide where clinically appropriate
  • Enhanced green spaces at multiple sites for staff and patient wellbeing

We will continue to seek opportunities across all clinical services to deliver lower carbon care, for example, by:

  • Providing care closer to home
  • Preventing high-carbon interventions, where appropriate
  • Implementing lower-carbon interventions where they are clinically equivalent Reducing unnecessary differences in how care is provided and the outcomes patients receive, which can lead to avoidable carbon emissions
     

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We will utilise digital technology and systems to improve patient experience, reduce paper use and support more sustainable healthcare delivery.

The Trust has:

  • Launched Virtual Ward care project and Islacare image handling app
  • Expanded digital appointment letters across services
  • Continued rollout of NHS App and digital patient pathways
  • Introduced Electronic Patient Medicines Administration (EPMA)
  • Developed e-scheduling solutions for community visits
  • Piloted ambient voice technology to support clinical documentation

We will continue exploring ways to use digital technology to support our sustainability agenda.

We will reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality from business travel, staff commuting, and patient/visitor travel. This will be achieved by promoting and supporting walking, cycling or using public transport where possible and by switching to electric vehicles when car journeys are necessary.

The Trust has:

  • Converted the Trust’s fleet of 33 vehicles to electric and plug in hybrid
  • Expanded electric vehicle charging infrastructure across sites
  • Received Gold Cycle Friendly Employer accreditation from Cycle UK at freehold sites
  • Implemented an active travel program which includes an e-bike trial,  a cycle-to-work scheme (purchase through salary sacrifice), active travel events for staff and cycle confidence training
  • Improved facilities for cyclists, including secure cycle sheds, showers, bike repair stations, and lockers

·       Achieved 99% ultra-low emission (electric or plug in hybrid) vehicles within the staff salary sacrifice car leasing scheme

The Trust is developing a sustainable travel strategy to reduce emissions and improve air quality across all business travel and journeys to and from Trust sites. We will continue to expand our active travel program.

We will reduce carbon emissions from our buildings by improving energy efficiency, reducing energy usage, using renewable energy and decarbonising heating and hot water systems.

The Trust has:

  • Installed solar panels at ten sites
  • Successfully delivered the Langley House heat pump project, eliminating gas use at the site
  • Completed LED lighting upgrades across freehold sites
  • Installed smart building technology and upgrading utility metering
  • Installed recycling bins across all freehold sites as well as in many of our leasehold properties

We will continue assessing carbon reduction opportunities across our estate. We will reduce carbon emissions and use of natural resources by reducing waste, supporting a circular economy, and adhering to the waste hierarchy.

We will reduce the carbon emissions related to (associated with) our prescribing and use of medicines while maintaining safe, effective patient care.

The Trust has:

  • Reduced inhaler-related emissions from 42.5 tonnes CO2e in 2024-25 to 31 tonnes CO2e in 2025-26 by introducing lower-carbon inhaler prescribing practices where clinically appropriate
  • Supported Fairview Pharmacy to achieve sustainability accreditation

We will continue working with the pharmacy team to explore ways of reducing and recycling pharmaceutical waste.  Additionally, we will continue supporting e-prescribing projects, such as EMIS and SystmOne Mobile appointments, which aim to eliminate duplication, improve user experience, and maximise the use of clinical systems that are available to the Trust.

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We will use our purchasing power to reduce carbon embedded in our supply chains.
The Trust has:

  • Adopted the NHS net zero procurement pathway  
  • Switched to 100% use of recycled paper.
  • Implemented procurement regulation PPN06/20 (social value) with 10% of the value of tenders assigned to social value, which includes environmental sustainability criteria. 
  • Implemented procurement regulation PPN06/21, which requires all contracts over £5m to have a carbon reduction plans.

We will work closely with the Northwest London procurement services to identify opportunities to reduce single-use items, minimise waste, and take steps to transition to circular opportunities (solutions).

We will work with suppliers and partners to reduce emissions throughout our procurement and supply chains.The Trust has:

  • Implemented 10% social value requirements in all tenders
  • Established a joint Circular Economy Working Group with West London NHS Trust to identify opportunities to reduce single-use products
  • Partnered with CO2 Analysis to better understand supply chain emissions and to inform development of a strategy to reduce supply chain emissions

We continue working closely with the Northwest London procurement services to identify opportunities to reduce single-use items, minimise waste, and take steps to transition to circular opportunities and solutions.

 

We will prepare our services, staff and infrastructure for the impacts of climate change and extreme weather.  

The Trust has: 

  • Published a dedicated Climate Adaptation Plan outlining how the Trust mitigates the risks and effects of climate change and severe weather on its infrastructure, patients and staff
  • Carried out a flood risk assessment at all our sites
  • Installed air conditioning at certain freehold sites affected by overheating
  • Introduced smart sensors to monitor temperature and humidity at 13 sites
  • Established a Climate Change Adaptation Group to oversee delivery and resilience planning