Environment and sustainability

Promoting and implementing sustainability across the Trust

Climate change is now considered to be one of the biggest threats to the health and wellbeing of millions of people worldwide, with the worst effects predicted to have greatest impact on the most vulnerable in society.

We believe it’s crucial that action is taken at all levels to implement effective strategies to reduce carbon emissions, protect the environment and support sustainable development.

Our commitment to sustainability

At NEAS, we’re committed to promoting sustainability and operating a sustainable health and care system across the Trust.

We acknowledge that as a major service provider our activities will inevitably have an impact on the local environment, and so we understand that adopting sustainable practices is vital for us to deliver effective services, both now and in the future.

This is set out in our Sustainability Vision:

‘To operate a sustainable health and care system which works within the available environmental and social resources, protecting and improving health now and for future generations.’

Our Green Plan

As an NHS provider, NEAS is required to have a Board-approved Green Plan under the standard contract from Commissioners. Green Plans are considered a measure of a well-led organisation and form a key part of sustainable healthcare delivery, ensuring that services provided today are fit for purpose in the future.

Our Green Plan outlines projects and activities that will drive continual improvement in sustainability performance throughout the Trust, focusing on areas such as increasing staff awareness and engagement, reducing the carbon emissions associated with our service delivery and monitoring how we operate our estate from a sustainability perspective.

The plan celebrates our progress to-date and outlines our plans up to 2026. It is an update of our previous Carbon Management Plan which was approved by the Board in 2015. The Green Plan is accompanied by a Sustainability Action Plan.

What the Green Plan will achieve

The delivery of our Green Plan will ensure that we:

• Reduce our environmental, social and economic impact
• Increase resilience
• Consider our local impact both positively and negatively
• Create social value
• Drive innovation and new technologies
• Lead by example.

Monitoring progress

Our progress will be reported to the Board via the Environmental Compliance & Sustainability Group on an annual basis.

The action plan is intended to be constantly changing to reflect the progress that’s been made and demonstrate our ongoing commitment to reducing the impact of climate change and protecting our natural resources.