It comes down to this: we must move from high-carbon/high-waste to net-zero/zero-waste.
Carin Charlton, Net Zero Lead (Director of Capital, estates and facilities management)
A responsible consumer
The sustainable alternative to high-carbon and high-waste consumption is a revolving system of renewal. Fossil fuels are rapidly replaced. Everything that is thrown away is carefully and consistently fed directly back into the supply chain its highest value.
To halve emissions inside ten years and then go on to net-zero in the following fifteen, we must also include actions to rapidly reframe decision-making in relation to what and how we consume - building climate safety and a secure natural environment into every choice we make as a matter of course.
Richard Hales, Energy and sustainability manager
For CUH to become a responsible consumer in this transformation there are some key strategic steps to put in place:
- Drive down the intensity of our energy use (e.g. fewer kilowatt hours per square metre or miles travelled per patient contact) through:
- building design,
- active travel measures,
- amended processes and adjusted behaviour.
- We will install or directly account for new renewable energy in the process of decarbonising all our building services and travel energy requirements.
- Create value and reduce carbon by directly linking our purchases with:
- repair
- reuse and
- sustainable disposal by design so that as little as possible is wasted or lost.
- Secure staff engagement for the process and provide community leadership across our CUH family and local community. Tp share the vision we will work with:
- local partners
- regional partners
- national partners
- A renewably powered circular economy can only become a reality where:
- care is integrated,
- commercial partners are innovative,
- local authorities are facilitators, and
- the wider community acknowledges and experiences the benefits.
Our approach
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