Our sustainability strategy: an update

As our Sustainability Strategy reaches completion, work is well underway to achieve our next key target as an organisation: Net Zero by 2040.

This year, our Zero Waste to Landfill target has been certified by environmental agency Valpak, alongside a 50 per cent reduction in carbon emissions since 2015.

The road towards net zero

'Net zero' means a balance between the carbon emitted into the atmosphere and the carbon removed from it.

Every year, NHS Blood and Transplant reviews and reports carbon emissions, collecting information on how we use gas and electricity, how we travel, and how we dispose of waste. These reports, now aligned with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, help us to understand where and how we can improve.

We are making changes to our daily operations, from the way we collect, store and deliver blood products to the buildings and equipment we use. In doing so, we have greatly reduced the carbon dioxide emissions since 2014/15.

For transportation we have installed charging points for electric vehicles at a number of our sites for staff to use.

Tom Hammond, Head of Logistics Operations, said: "We are currently trialling battery electric vehicles with the aim of achieving our net zero carbon targets without a detrimental impact on our operational requirements.

"The rest of our fleet that runs on diesel is EURO 6 compliant – the most economical and least polluting vehicles available in the marketplace."

NHS Blood and Transplant’s staff’s commuting habits are similarly have been surveyed and the results included in our annual reports. This gives us a picture of our wider carbon footprint and will enable us to improve facilities for employees.

Sustainability

We have moved to new sustainable methods and equipment that do not compromise what we supply to hospitals.

One such initiative has been a trial of reusable cups at five of our donor centres.

Made from food-grade polypropylene, the 600ml cups are not only reusable but fully recyclable once they are no longer fit for purpose. Look out for them at your next a-pint-ment!

Carolyn Roost, senior sister at the West End Donor Centre, said: "The cups have been really well received by donors. Donors keep their cup throughout their stay at the centre, before placing it in a recycle bin. We can then clean them in the dishwasher and reuse them, saving waste every day."

How you can help

We are all trying to do our bit to reduce carbon emissions and landfill waste and our donors are no different.

By taking reusable water bottles for your pre-donation drink, you can help us to meet our environmental aims. Similarly, you can take any waste you have brought with you home to recycle. You can also let us know your email address, so we send your session invitations digitally, reducing printing and postage.

By supporting NHS Blood and Transplant, you are actively helping the wider NHS become more environmentally sustainable. We thank donors for their amazing support: not only saving lives but helping to save the planet too.