Sustainability


How care homes can participate in the race to net zero


Lee Sheppard, director of corporate affairs & policy at care home meals producer apetito, gives some practical tips on how the sector can make a real difference to decarbonisation


One of the first questions we are always asked is ‘why?’. Why should the climate change agenda be important to me as a care home operator? A decade ago, net zero was a phrase that very few of us were familiar with. Since then, governments, businesses and consumers across the world have all had this land on their agenda – the question is: ‘does net zero matter to me and my organisation?’. Whether young or old, whether an


employer or an employee - climate change impacts us all. Understanding why is critical for any organisation to embrace the work that needs to be done – there are legal, moral, financial, health, environmental and many more reasons to address climate change and these will vary by business and by individual.


What many businesses are slow to realise is that there is also a compelling business case to move to net zero – through creating real competitive advantage. At a time where recruitment is proving more challenging than ever, employees are looking for organisations with real social purpose - attracting and retaining talent is key to any business and a commitment to net zero will prove to be a key factor in making your business stand apart. We must also recognise that the care sector is a competitive space, and that occupancy is king – what makes families and residents


choose your organisation as a home for their loved ones? Undoubtedly, a commitment to addressing climate change will become increasingly important over time and more importantly set you apart from those that do not choose to lead in this space. The pressures Covid has brought to bear on care homes over the past two years, has meant that in many cases, sustainability may not have been at the forefront of immediate decision making. Safety of residents and staff and ensuring consistency of service has been paramount. Yet COP26 has brought the issues of net zero full circle, and no-one can fail to be aware of the importance of taking action - and taking it now. The health and social care sector is


purportedly responsible for around six per cent of all carbon emissions in the UK. This includes the NHS, which of course is a significant proportion of this figure, but nevertheless, care homes are increasingly coming into the spotlight. So the question is, where do you start? The key thing here is to focus on doing


Science-based targets are not driven by marketing but by climate science - ensure that you focus on actually removing greenhouse gases, not simply offsetting


February 2022 www.thecarehomeenvironment.com


the right thing. In recent months, too many organisations are making hollow net zero commitments that are not backed up with credibility or action. The Competition and Markets Authority has recognised this, revealing that up to 40 per cent of green claims made by businesses are misleading customers - and they are seeking to clamp down on those that do so.


Making a real difference It may sound daunting but there are some straightforward steps to take that will make a difference. As a care home, there are obvious places to target when it comes to reducing your carbon footprint and interestingly, many of these generate financial savings as well.


The first place to start is by gaining the


necessary support and commitment from your organisation and C-level personnel. Do not underestimate the importance of this – once you have sorted the ‘why’ for your organisation and employees, gaining traction is so much easier. Then you need to manage your current carbon footprint. In simple terms, you cannot manage what you cannot measure. There are tools and organisations that can help you do this regardless of size and scale of your business, including free resources.


43


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48