Foreword
As one of the largest community healthcare providers in England, Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust (KCHFT) has a responsibility to lead by example in the face of the climate emergency.
The health of our communities is inextricably linked to the health of our environment. KCHFT’s Green Plan 2025–2028 sets out a bold and practical roadmap to achieving net-zero emissions, while continuing to deliver high-quality, compassionate care across Kent, Medway, East Sussex and London.
This plan builds on the strong foundations laid by our first Green Plan in 2021. It reflects the progress we have made, from installing solar arrays and transitioning our fleet to electric vehicles, to pioneering sustainable food initiatives and embedding biodiversity into our estate.
It also acknowledges the scale of the challenge ahead. Climate change is already impacting our services, infrastructure and the health of the people we serve. We must act decisively and collaboratively to build resilience and reduce our environmental footprint.
The Green Plan aligns with the NHS’s national net-zero targets and the Kent and Medway Integrated Care System’s Green Strategy. It identifies ten key areas of focus, including clinical transformation, digital innovation, sustainable travel and supply chain reform. Each area is underpinned by SMART targets and a commitment to transparency, accountability and continuous improvement.
This is not just a sustainability plan – it is a health plan. By reducing emissions, improving air quality and promoting active travel and sustainable nutrition, we are investing in the long-term wellbeing of our patients, colleagues and communities.
We are proud of the leadership shown by our colleagues and are committed to empowering every team and individual to contribute to this vital mission.
Together, we can deliver a greener, healthier future.
Gordon Flack
Chief Financial Officer
Strategy in context
Our organisation
Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust (KCHFT) provides wide-ranging NHS care for people in the community, in a range of settings including people’s own homes, nursing homes, health clinics, community hospitals, minor injury units, a walk-in centre and in mobile units.
We are one of the largest NHS community health providers in England, serving a population of 3.6million across Kent, East Sussex and London.
We employ 5,000 staff, including doctors, community nurses, physiotherapists, dietitians and many other healthcare professionals.
Our values
- Compassionate
We put patients and our service users at the heart of everything we do. We’re positive, kind and polite. We understand diversity. We’re respectful, patient and tolerant.
- Aspirational
We feel empowered and we empower our patients. We strive to improve. Our focus is on research and generating ideas and innovations. We’re open, transparent and we think creatively.
- Responsive
We listen. We act. We communicate clearly. We do what we say we will. We take account of other’s opinions.
- Excellent
We strive to deliver the best care we can. We grow a culture of excellence in our teams. We challenge complacency.
Our goal
The United Nations (UN) Brundtland Commission defined sustainability as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.
In our ambition to reach net-zero, KCHFT will support the communities it serves to live well while mitigating its impact on the environment.
Our mission is to empower adults and children to live well, be the best employer and work with our partners as one.
Our strategy
In line with the Greener NHS Plan, KCHFT has identified 10 key areas of focus, which will enable us to structure our actions and take a holistic approach to sustainability.
- Workforce and leadership – how do we support our colleagues and leaders to learn, innovate and embed sustainability into everyday actions?
- Net-zero clinical transformation – how do we deliver high quality, preventative and low carbon care in our work?
- Digital transformation – how do we use technology to maximise efficiency and reduce emissions?
- Medicines – how do we reduce waste and emissions from our medicines supply chain?
- Travel and transport – how do we reduce the emissions associated with the transport of colleagues, service users and goods?
- Estates and facilities – how do we improve the efficiency of our estate, while lowering costs and emissions?
- Supply chain and procurement – how do we influence our supply chain?
- Food and nutrition – how do we deliver high quality, sustainable and healthy food?
- Adaptation – how are we planning in the longer term to build resilience against climate change?
- Wildlife and biodiversity – how do we interact with and support the ecosystems and habitats we share space with?
Introduction
As the UK’s largest employer, the NHS is responsible for around four per cent of the UK’s carbon emissions and has a duty to lead on emissions reduction.
KCHFT is proud to align itself with the NHS’ leadership role and has committed to net-zero in the emissions it controls by 2040.
Since the onset of the industrial revolution, anthropogenically produced emissions have risen by around 1.2 to 1.3°C. Rising temperatures and an increased frequency of extreme weather events pose significant risks to infrastructure, supply chains, health and KCHFT’s ability to deliver care.
Action needs to be taken now to mitigate these impacts and limit global warming to 1.5°C, in line with legal commitments made at COP21 in Paris.
The NHS commitment in context
Health impacts
In 2015, the UK became a signatory of the Paris Climate Accords and subsequently updated the commitments made in the Climate Change Act of 2008.
Following the amendment, the UK is now legally bound to reduce emissions to net-zero by 2050.
Following this, the NHS set out its plan to become the world’s first net-zero health service and set two ambitious targets:
- for the emissions we control directly (NHS Carbon Footprint), we will reach net-zero by 2040, with an ambition to reach an 80 per cent reduction by 2028 to 2032
- for the emissions we can influence (our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus), we will reach net-zero by 2045, with an ambition to reach an 80 per cent reduction by 2036 to 2039.
To align KCHFT with the NHS’ Net-Zero programme, we have committed to the net-zero targets in both the NHS-CF (NHS Carbon Footprint) and the NHS-CF+ (NHS Carbon Footprint Plus).
Building resilience
Reducing the impact of climate change will also have a positive impact on health outcomes.
Air pollution is a contributing factor to respiratory conditions such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, lung cancer and pneumonia.
Transitioning our fleets over to zero emission vehicles and providing Electric Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure will reduce tailpipe emissions at our sites, improving local air quality.
Facilitating active travel for commuting and patient and visitor travel will also have positive health outcomes. Walking and cycling has several health and wellbeing benefits and can reduce all-cause mortality by at least 10 per cent [1].
Our journey so far
Since the publication of our first Green Plan in 2021, we have developed data pipelines needed for a clearer picture of KCHFT's footprint (NHS-CF & NHS-CF+).
Backdated to the 2019-20 financial year, insights attained from this work have enabled us to monitor how interventions impact emissions in individual work streams and how we are progressing towards the net-zero targets.
Innovation in the sustainability space has been driven by a culture of continuous improvement. Actions have been taken at a trust-wide scale and by colleagues looking to make improvements in their departments and individual workdays.
Some examples of projects undertaken are as follows:
We began the process of transitioning our building lighting over to LED lights, as part of an ongoing effort to improve the efficiency of our buildings. LED now accounts for 14.4 per cent of lighting across our estate. Smart Building Management Systems (BMS) have also been deployed at several sites, as well as devices such as occupancy and motion sensors
We have installed solar arrays at five sites, producing up to 48,560kWh of electricity per month. The most recently installed array at Dover Health Centre (pictured) will produce 82mWh each year.
We have made significant progress towards decarbonising our fleet, with one third of the 60 internal fleet vehicles now being either hybrid or fully electric.
Hawkhurst Community Hospital is the location of the ‘Food for Thought and Reminiscence Garden’. Fruit, herbs and vegetables are grown on hospital grounds in an allotment style garden (which doubles as a wellbeing space), so colleagues and patients have access to fresh, locally sourced meals. Since its inception, 269kg of food has been grown, contributing to a reduction in the number of food deliveries needed for the hospital.
We have collaborated with colleagues and partners to improve efficiency and data acquisition. These include the Context of Vehicle Emissions (COVE) tool and the NHS Emissions Quantification Recipe Book (NHS-EQRB). Both have streamlined data acquisition for all NHS trusts and have been nominated for awards.
We commissioned Kent Wildlife Trust to undertake biodiversity surveys at four KCHFT sites, to better understand how we can support local ecosystems in our green spaces. Based on the findings, we have installed new animal habitats and planted native trees through the NHS Forest.
We have developed our understanding of the risk associated with climate change by completing assessments of the flood and air pollution risk to sites. An adaptation plan will be published in 2025, outlining the anticipated risks to KCHFT from climate change and the actions to mitigate those risks.
We received recognition at the Greener Allied Health Professions Award 2023 for an elbow crutch recycling scheme. The project enables the equipment to be returned to KCHFT's community hospitals, reducing the amount of waste produced.
Where are we now?
Establishing a data-backed foundation is paramount for understanding how KCHFT's workstreams emit pollutants and what interventions need to be prioritised to achieve net-zero.
We have been building data pipelines across the trust's workstreams, reporting on the outputs through interactive visualisations with PowerBI.
To enable fair comparisons with our partners across the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board, we have used the NHS Emissions Quantification Recipe Book. This tool provides consistency in emissions factors and calculations across all workstreams we monitor, while clearly indicating the quality of the data used (optimal vs. reduced).
Through collaboration with colleagues in every facet of KCHFT’s operations, we have established data pipelines in a range of emission sources, from anaesthetic gases to food and catering.
There is significant mileage undertaken by colleagues and gas-fired heating systems at most of our sites.
Pareto analysis of the NHS-CF identified that 78 per cent of KCHFT's 2023-24 emissions can be directly attributed to either travel and transport or fossil fuels.
Travel and transport is also the most intensive workstream for KCHFT in the NHS-CF+, where it accounts for 54 per cent of emissions (2023-24), mainly from staff commuting.
The intensity of travel, transport and fossil fuels in KCHFT’s footprint can be attributed to the scattered nature of community services. KCHFT operates 28 sites spanning Kent, Medway and East Sussex, with staff working at more than 100 different locations as well as visiting patients in the community.
Taking action to tackle emissions associated with travel, transport and fossil fuels is KCHFT's priority, as it will be the most effective means of reducing emissions in the short to medium term and will lead to significant progress towards net-zero.
Breakdown of KCHFT's 2023/24 emissions figures. Well To Tank (WTT).
Projections
There are 50 years between the NHS 1990 baseline and the net-zero goal (NHS-CF) for 2040. This means with an equal 2 per cent reduction in emissions each year, KHFT can achieve net-zero.
The two per cent calculation also enables us to project back to 1990 using our earliest measured emissions year (2019-20).
The projected 1990 baseline allows us to set an 80 per cent reduction target to align itself with the NHS’ carbon reduction objectives.
KCHFT has remained within its projected emissions range for each financial year since the 2019/20 baseline, seeing a further reduction in 2023-24 following the post-lockdown ‘bounce back’ from the 2020-21 low.
Projected path to net-zero versus actual emissions.
Targets
The NHS has committed to net-zero by 2040, with an ambition to reach an 80 per cent reduction by 2028 to 2032 in the NHS-CF and net-zero by 2045, with an ambition to reach an 80 per cent reduction by 2036 to 2039 in the NHS-CF+.
KCHFT has aligned itself with the NHS’ net-zero targets of 2040 and 2045 and committed to the more ambitious targets of achieving the 80 per cent reduction compared to 1990 levels by 2028 and 2036 respectively.
Our Green Plan covers work up to 2028 and will define the body of work required to achieve an 80 per cent reduction in the NHS-CF within this period.
As of the 2023-24 financial year, KCHFT has achieved a 67.28 per cent reduction in the NHS-CF, meaning a further 12.72 per cent reduction (1,737.02tCO2e) is still required by 2028.
Bar graph depicting emissions reduction required for short-term goal (80 per cent reduction from 1990 levels by 2028).
To achieve this, KCHFT will need to exceed the two per cent per year reduction over the next five years and achieve an average 2.54 per cent (347.4tCO2e) reduction per year from 2024-25 to 2028-29.
During the pandemic, lockdowns in 2020-21 took KCHFT within 1.91 per cent of its 80 per cent reduction target. This can be attributed to the reduced building occupancy and reduced travel requirements.
Breakdown of NHS-CF footprint 2023-24.
Fossil fuels and travel and transport are the biggest challenges for KCHFT to overcome, accounting for 45 per cent of the NHS-CF emissions in 2023-24.
It does, however, also represent an opportunity to achieve significant reductions in emissions with focused and targeted interventions.
Actions which enable the electrification of KCHFT’s fleets and transition away from gas-fired heating systems will be two priorities outlined in this Green Plan, to achieve the 80 per cent reduction target.
Aligning with the NHS net-zero Travel and Transport Strategy[1] and decarbonising heating systems, will be the main vectors to achieving these reductions.
Strategies
Kent and Medway Integrated Care System Green Plan
The challenge of delivering a resilient healthcare system, which minimises impact on the environment, is one which cannot be completed in isolation by individual trusts.
Collaboration with partners, both within the healthcare system and in local government and public services, is essential if KCHFT is to achieve net-zero.
The Kent and Medway Integrated Care System Green Plan covers strategic planning for the local healthcare system in the lead up to the 2028 interim target of an 80 per cent reduction compared to 1990.
We will collaborate with regional partners to explore opportunities which will accelerate the regional and trust-specific green plans for the benefit of colleagues, service users and residents of Kent.
Our Travel and Transport Strategy
As a community trust, one of our biggest challenges is addressing the emissions associated with travel and transport. Significant action needs to be taken to address emissions from our owned and grey fleets, as well as staff commuting.
The NHS Net-Zero Travel and Transport Strategy mandates that sustainable transport strategies need to be in place by 2026.
Our Travel and Transport Strategy will set forth 13 targets. These will enable us to build infrastructure, which facilitates active travel and fleet transition and lays the foundations for net-zero travel and transport at KCHFT.
Our Adaptation Plan
Climate change will modify the number of risks our services and properties are exposed to. Making sure we have a resilient health service, which is prepared for the anticipated challenges presented by climate change, is paramount for KCHFT.
Our Adaptation Plan will outline the risks identified and actions to mitigate those risks.
KCHFT's we care strategy
Our we care strategy sets out our vision, mission, values and ambitions for 2023 to 2028.
Areas of focus
Workforce and leadership
Overview of progress
We have made significant progress towards improving workforce and leadership in sustainability. We have a net-zero lead (technical lead for sustainability) and an appointed board representative. We also have an energy and environment lead and a sustainability projects support officer.
Monthly progress reports are submitted to the board, while quarterly progress reports are provided to the Kent and Medway ICB.
To stay aligned with the NHS’ net-zero programme and other legislative requirements, we have developed a ‘requirement tool’ which tracks progress against requirements.
Over the 2025-28 period, we will expand our training offer to empower colleagues so they can make interventions in their practice and make sure leaders know of their obligations to help reduce emissions.
Actions
- WLe1. Expand our sustainability related training offers and assess workforce capacity and skill, including board level provisions.
- WLe2. Appoint a committee, tasked with oversight of the trust’s transition to net-zero.
Net-zero clinical transformation
Overview of progress
High quality, preventative and low-carbon care is the goal of creating a net-zero health service. KCHFT colleagues have endeavoured to bring these values into practice, to reduce the environmental impact of their service.
We have made changes to reduce the number of letters sent, participated in walking-aid return schemes and made efforts to update formulary guidance to reduce the impact of medicines where applicable.
By identifying a clinical lead with oversight of net-zero clinical transformation, we can focus on reducing emissions and improving quality of care in specific clinical areas. The net-zero clinical lead will play a key role in the committee proposed and oversee our transition to net-zero.
Actions
- NZC1. KCHFT will appoint a net-zero clinical lead, with formal links into board-level leadership and governance.
Digital transformation
Overview of progress
We have prioritised digital transformation to maximise the benefits of automating processes, without negatively impacting clinical services.
Here are some examples of how digital interventions have reduced costs, electricity consumption and transport requirements.
Printing – changing the default printer settings from simplex to duplex and colour to greyscale has successfully reduced the amount of paper we use and the average cost per sheet printed.
Building management systems – multiple systems enable remote interventions for our estates colleagues and live building data for the our energy manager. This reduces the number of journeys to site and the associated emissions.
Remote working – uptake of digital working tools such as Microsoft Teams has enabled collaboration without the need to meet in-person. This has reduced space demand in our buildings and mileage for colleagues travelling to them.
Software and automation – we are exploring opportunities ways software can switch off unused devices outside of work hours, to save electricity. Our flobots programme has enabled several teams to introduce automation into their workplans.
Emissions contributions (NHS-CF)
Actions
- DTr1. Explore opportunities to use digital pathways which reduce emissions.
Medicines
Overview of progress
In addition to the ‘per spend’ medicines calculations in the NHS-CF+, we have also calculated the emissions associated with use of anaesthetic gases and the prescribing of metered dose inhalers (MDIs). KCHFT doesn’t procure desflurane as part of its service provision, so no action needs to be taken.
In 2023-24, we prescribed 1,810 MDIs of varying emission intensities, producing 19.91tCO2e. Our prescribing teams are aware of the environmental impacts of MDIs and consider these impacts in their prescribing.
Emissions contributions (NHS-CF & NHS-CF+)
Digital transformation specific workstreams in the NHS-CF 2023-24.
Actions
- Med1. We will collaborate with system colleagues to optimise inhaler prescription for respiratory care and amplify inhaler recycling scheme in the communities we serve.
- Med2. We will take action to mitigate the waste associated with nitrous oxide consumption.
Travel and transport
Overview of progress
As a community trust, we cover a large geographical footprint in the administration of our services. Consequently, emissions associated with travel and transport account for the largest proportion of both the NHS-CF and NHS-CF+.
We align ourselves with the NHS net-zero travel and transport strategy[1] and there are four key areas in which we will need to focus efforts. These will be supplemented by 13 targets outlined in our Travel and Transport Strategy.
We have 14 EV chargers and cycle accessible facilities at five of our sites.
Internal fleet – our ‘trust-owned’ fleet consists of 60 vehicles, which are used as pool cars, delivery vehicles and building management vehicles. Twenty (33.3%) of these vehicles are either electric or hybrid. All new vehicles will need to be electric or hybrid by 2027 to align with the NHS Net-Zero Travel and Transport Strategy[1].
Business mileage – In 2023-24, KCHFT colleagues claimed 7.6 million miles worth of emissions in grey fleet mileage, accounting for 42 per cent of total NHS-CF emissions. As our source of direct emissions, we will need to prioritise actions which facilitate the decarbonisation of the grey fleet over the 2025-28 period and beyond.
The NHS Net-Zero Travel and Transport Strategy[1] states that by 2040, trusts will only reimburse business mileage for zero-emission vehicles. This gives KCHFT 15 years to establish an EV-ready estate so that services aren’t negatively impacted by mandated changes to business mileage compensation.
Active travel and commuting – in the travel and transport hierarchy, active travel (walking and cycling) is the most sustainable option after video conferencing.
However, colleagues keen to incorporate active travel into their commute and working day face several barriers:
- cycle locking facilities are only available at five KCHFT-owned sites, while changing and shower facilities are only available at four sites. There are multiple sites with no facilities to enable commuting by bicycle or incorporating cycling into the work day.
- There is no guidance or policy for mitigating the risk associated with e-bicycle batteries, so colleagues are unable to use e-bicycles in their work day.
- Large distances between sites and community appointments mean active travel is often not an option due to time constraints and physical ability.
For detailed information on how travel and transport impacts KCHFT's emissions and the actions which are being taken, please refer to our Travel and Transport Strategy.
Emissions contributions (NHS-CF and NHS-CF+)
Travel and transport specific workstreams in the NHS-CF 2023-24.
Travel and transport specific workstreams in the NHS-CF and NHS-CF+ 2023-24.
Actions
- Tra1. Commit to running an annual travel and transport survey for colleagues, patients and visitors. (2025)
- Tra2. Commit to developing a policy, which enables colleagues to use electric bicycles in their workday. (2025)
- Tra3. Commit to providing colleagues with a salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. (2025)
- Tra4. Commit to quantifying colleague commuting data and adding it to NHS-CF+ emissions calculations. (2026)
- Tra5. Commit to leasing and purchasing exclusively zero-emission vehicles for its internal fleet. (2027)
- Tra6. Explore opportunities to collaborate with partners in Kent and Medway to incentivise colleague use of public transport. (2028)
- Tra7. Explore if digital pool car systems can be a cost-effective means of managing applicable internal fleet vehicles. (2028)
- Tra8. Commit to providing bike locking facilities at all KCHFT-owned and long lease sites. (2030)
- Tra9. Explore opportunities where additional showering and locker facilities can support colleagues with active travel. (2030)
- Tra10. Commit to establishing an EV-ready estate by mandating, where possible, availability of electric vehicle chargers at all long lease and KCHFT-owned sites. Priority will be given to sites hosting owned and internal fleet vehicles. (2030)
- Tra11. Explore whether ANPR parking systems are a cost-effective measure for managing our car parks. (2030)
- Tra12. Commit to achieving zero emissions for business travel. (subject to national terms and conditions aligning).
- Tra13. Commit to reviewing legislative requirements annually and aligning KCHFT with NHS and national guidance.
Estates and facilities 
Overview of progress
There are significant opportunities to optimise our estate, reducing emissions and building a climate resilience. In 2023-24, utilities accounted for 33 per cent of the NHS-CF emissions and natural gas consumption made up 85.82 per cent of scope one emissions.
Taking actions which decarbonise our estate will substantially reduce emissions and facilitate further work to achieve net-zero. Interventions include, but are not limited to, Solar photovoltaic (PV), LED Lighting and heat decarbonisation.
Solar – we now operate five solar arrays located at Dover Health Centre, Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital (QVMH), Victoria Hospital Deal, Edenbridge Memorial Health Centre and Hawkhurst Hospital. In June 2024, these arrays reported their strongest production month of over 77,000kWh of electricity for KCHFT.
There are financial and emission-based incentives for pursuing solar. For example, at Dover Health Centre the array is estimated to have a seven-year return on investment, from which point we will save an estimated £18,667.75 each year on our electricity bill. In addition, the array saves 14.4tCO2e when compared to sourcing electricity entirely from the grid and the additional electrical capacity can support other projects such as EVCPs and heat pumps.
Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) – use 75 per cent less electricity than incandescent bulbs and 50 per cent the electricity of compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) bulbs. In addition, the bulbs last upwards of 10,000 hours longer than halogen bulbs, reducing replacement and maintenance costs. Transitioning to LED lighting will reduce energy consumption, reduce associated bills and reduce emissions associated with electricity consumption. Investment in this area will have a positive impact on the general long-term efficiency of KCHFT’s buildings.
The Capital Team have previously worked on LED light projects at KCHFT and have shared the following successful outcomes, which were completed in the 2023-24 financial year. These were undertaken at Chaucer House, Coxheath Centre, Molehill Copse Clinic, Tonbridge Cottage Hospital and Vicarage Lane Clinic. Following this 14.4 per cent of our ‘owned’ estate floor area is covered by LED lighting. This figure reduces to 10.12 per cent when the calculation is expanded to ‘owned and leased’.
Heat decarbonisation – KCHFT is responsible for 27 sites across a large geographical footprint, with colleagues working in over 100 different sites, so decarbonising our heating systems presents a significant challenge.
Since the publication of our first green plan in 2021, we have developed a high-level decarbonisation plan for six sites through the Low Carbon Skills Fund from Salix. Plans to decarbonise the ICC at QVMH have since been developed to a greater level of detail.
An interdisciplinary working group has been established within the estates and optimisation directorate to further progress and develop plans to decarbonise our heating systems. The group working to a deadline of 2032.
Emissions contributions (NHS-CF)
Estates and facilities specific workstreams in the NHS-CF 2023-24.
Actions
- EFa1. Commit to 50 per cent of LED coverage by 2028.
- EFa2. Develop a decarbonisation plan to transition fossil fuel heating systems to lower carbon alternatives by 2032.
- EFa3. Expand onsite renewable energy generation, to meet electricity demand.
- EFa4. All new buildings and refurbishments will be compliant with the NHS Net-Zero Building Standard[9].
- EFa5. Sustainability commitments will be incorporated into the Trust’s buildings and estate optimisation work.
Supply chain and procurement
Overview of progress
The NHS can’t achieve its net-zero goals in isolation. Reducing emissions in the NHS-CF+ (emissions we influence), requires collaboration with our suppliers. Alignment with national tools such as the Evergreen Assessment[5] or the Net-Zero Supplier Roadmap[4], will enable KCHFT to reduce its NHS-CF emissions in line with national targets.
Emissions from KCHFT’s supply chain and procurement are varied, coming from medical devices, medicines, information and communication technology, as well as food and catering. ‘Per spend’ emissions calculations have been completed and backdated to an actual baseline of 2019-20 and projected to a 1990 baseline, so a target for an 80 per cent reduction by 2036 can be calculated.
From 2027, alignment with the NHS Net-Zero Supplier Roadmap[4] will require suppliers to provide product level insights for foot-printing efforts. This will enable us to have a more detailed insight into our supply chain and identify opportunities to reduce emissions.
Emissions contributions (NHS-CF+)
Supply chain and procurement specific workstreams in the NHS-CF and NHS-CF+ 2023/24.
Actions
- SPr1. Commit to the requirements outlined in the NHS Net-Zero Supplier Roadmap[4] in all relevant procurements.
- SPr2. Work with suppliers to encourage uptake of the NHS Evergreen Sustainable Supplier Assessment[5] in KCHFT's supply chain.
- SPr3. Remove all non-clinical, single-use plastics from the supply chain by 2028.
Food and nutrition
Overview of progress
Since the inception of our Green Plan, we have been continually making progress within this area of focus.
We know fresh, healthy food is important for our colleagues and patients. Since 2021, the fresh fruit and vegetables grown in Hawkhurst Community Hospital's kitchen garden has produced over a quarter of a tonne of produce (269.07kg). The fruit and vegetables are harvested first thing in the morning and served the same day, providing fresh produce for patients and colleagues.
With fewer food deliveries needed, the garden’s farm-to-plate journey has saved approximately 103.72kg of CO2 emissions. In addition, the garden has also been used in patient therapy, as a green space to support rehabilitation.
Food waste has been another area of focus. We have committed to using blue plates in a bid to reduce food waste. In a number of trials carried out, the use of blue plates has been shown to reduce food waste by 20 per cent Furthermore, food waste is actively monitored through a comprehensive spreadsheet which records food waste per site through spoilage, production, unserved meals and plate waste. This racks total waste per kg, as well as an average waste in kg per plate per site.
Information is recorded on a daily meal-by-meal basis, allowing our Facilities Team to monitor any spikes in waste to enable appropriate changes to be implemented.
Finally, as part of the colleague beverage scheme, fresh, pasteurized milk is now delivered to sites on a weekly basis, which encourages our sites to move away from environmentally-damaging, single-use, plastic milk pods.
Emissions contributions (NHS-CF+)
Food and nutrition specific workstreams in the NHS-CF and NHS-CF+ 2023-24.
Actions
- FNu1. Commit to reduce food waste by 20 per cent by 2028.
- FNu2. Review menus to make sure seasonal fruit and vegetables are prioritised over heavily processed foods.
- FNu3. Continue to support the growth of fresh fruit and vegetables on our grounds to provide home-grown produce for patient meals.
Adaptation
Overview of progress
We have checked the short- and long-term flood risk to KCHFT's sites from surface water, river and coastal flooding. Sites identified as being at high risk of flooding have been shared with our Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response (EPRR) Team.
Air pollution in the Kent and Medway is monitored through publicly available data, to identify KCHFT locations in particular hot spots.
The Emergency Preparedness Resilience and Response Team is linked in with the Kent Resilience Forum. We will make sure KCHFT is prepared for the impacts associated with climate change and publish an Adaptation Plan.
Wildlife and biodiversity
Overview of progress
Kent Wildlife Trust carried out biodiversity surveys at four of our community hospital sites. The findings offered insight into the number of plant species we share our properties with and the wildlife that resides within these habitats.
We have been working to improve our green spaces to accommodate these species, with the provision of habitats such as bird boxes, hedgehog houses and bug hotels.
Native trees were planted in collaboration with the NHS Forest at Victoria Hospital in Deal. As well as providing habitats and improving biodiversity, these trees will offer shade when mature and contribute to work to adapt our estate to extreme temperatures.
We will continue to explore opportunities to encourage wildlife to our sites, contributing to biodiversity growth in the garden of England.
Actions
- WBi1. Continue to improve biodiversity with the provision of habitats and native trees to support ecosystems.
Journey to net-zero
2025 – milestone one
- Travel survey.
- E-bicycles policy.
- Green Plan 2025-28.
- Adaptation Strategy.
- Travel and Transport Strategy.
2027 – milestone two
- New, internal fleet vehicle will be zero-emission.
- All vehicles offered through the salary sacrifice scheme will be exclusively zero-emission from 2026.
2028 – milestone three
- 80 per cent reduction in the NHS-CF compared to 1990 values.
- 50 per cent LED light coverage.
- 20 per cent reduction in food waste compared to baseline.
- Non-clinical, single-use plastics to be phased out.
- All suppliers will be required to publicly report targets, emissions and publish a carbon reduction plan.
2030 – milestone four
- cycle locking facilities at all applicable sites.
- EV-ready estates with charging points at all KCHFT owned and long-lease sites.
2032 – milestone five
- KCHFT's heating systems will be full decarbonised.
- 100,000kWh produced renewably on-site during the summer months.
2036 – milestone six
- 80 per cent reduction in the NHS-CF+ compared to 1990 values.
2040 – milestone seven
- Business mileage will only be paid to zero-emission vehicles (subject to national terms and conditions).
- KCHFT will be NET-Zero in the NHS-CF.
2045 – milestone eight
- KCHFT will be net-zero in the NHS-CF+
Appendix
SMART targets
- Specific.
- Measurable.
- Achievable.
- Relevant.
- Timebound.
SDGs - United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
UN sustainable development goals (SDGs)
Affordable and clean energy
Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
Decent work and economic growth
Promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.
Industry, innovation and infrastructure
Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation.
Reduced inequalities
Reduce inequality within and among countries.
Sustainable cities and communities
Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
Responsible consumption and production
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
Climate action
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
Life below water
Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
Life on land
Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.
Peace, justice and strong institutions
Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.
Partnerships for the goals
Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development.
Key references
These are key documents that the policy, guideline and standard operating procedure relies on for best practice, national guidance or a legislative requirement. It is a list of items relied on for best practice and influence the requirements of the document.
- NHS Net-Zero Travel and Transport Strategy
- NHS Long Term Plan
- NHS standard contract
- NHS Net-Zero Supplier Road Map
- NHS Evergreen Assessment
- Task Force on Climate Related Financial Disclosures
- CQC Single Assessment Framework
- NHS Clinical Waste Strategy
- NHS Net-Zero Building Standard
- Health and Care Adaptation Report
- NHS Green Plan Guidance
- Delivering a Net-Zero National Health Service
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