The Capita / Sussex Community NHS Trust (SCT) ‘Care Without Carbon’ project has won the ‘Value and Improvement in Energy Efficiency’ category at the HSJ Value in Healthcare Awards 2015.

In February 2014 Sussex Community NHS Trust set out plans to achieve a 34% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2020, with the ultimate the aim of being a carbon neutral healthcare provider.

Entitled ‘Care Without Carbon’ (CWC) its strategy is based around a unique seven step approach that addresses buildings, journeys, procurement, culture, wellbeing, resilience and governance that will embed sustainability into its core operations. Highlights from the first four years of the project include:

• Reducing carbon footprint by 985 tonnes (15.7%) from the 2010/11 base year.
• Improving energy efficiency (kgCO2e/m2) by 14.5% and water efficiency (m3/m2) by 40.8% through the introduction of energy efficient and renewable energy technology; improving the way buildings are used; and water efficiency and leak detection schemes.
• Achieving a zero general waste to landfill objective by recycling almost 60% of general waste by weight, with the remainder converted into fuel to generate electricity.
•  Cutting vehicle emissions by 9.8% by introducing cleaner commercial vehicles, including the trust’s first electric courier vehicle, as well as capping engine emissions through a lease car scheme.
• Creating a comprehensive business travel plan aimed at reducing solo car occupancy and promoting more sustainable and healthy travel modes, as well as establishing a unique travel bureau to support managers and their staff in reducing travel time and costs. The result has been a 16.2% reduction in business miles between 2013 and 2014.
• Developing a team of enthusiastic ‘Carbon Champions’ to help deliver sustainability and carbon reduction initiatives through staff engagement, with those staff making the most telling contribution being recognised in annual staff awards.
• Initiating collaborative projects with our major suppliers to reduce the environmental impacts of the trust’s supply chain.

More information on Care Without Carbon can be found on the website www.carewithoutcarbon.org