Green Ward Toolkit Project

The climate emergency is a health emergency. The British Medical Journal (2021) indicated that “if healthcare was a single country, it would be the world’s fifth largest emitter, accounting for 4.6% of greenhouse gas emissions”. This is resonant in the UK, where the National Health Service (NHS) is a cornerstone of society, deeply connected to the lives and wellbeing of its people. Design HOPES (Healthy Organisations in Place-based Eco-systems Scotland) is a two-year transdisciplinary research project that exploits the potential of design-led thinking to innovate and tackle multifaceted health delivery challenges to meet urgent environmental goals for a sustainable health and social care system. Recognising that health professionals are not only the stewards of the NHS resource but also have a pivotal role in helping NHS Scotland achieve Net Zero carbon emissions by 2040, this poster presents one project within the larger Design HOPES remit – The Green Ward Toolkit. The project aims to develop a design-led toolkit to guide healthcare staff, providing them with essential knowledge, tools, and resources for implementing new sustainable practices. Ultimately, inspiring change by challenging norms, embracing circular economy principles, and raising awareness among staff about innovative possibilities in ward settings resulting in a more sustainable system.