SWFT Green Plan 2025-2028: Leading the Charge Towards Net Zero Healthcare
Click here to access the 2025 - 2028 Green Plan.
The climate crisis is a health emergency. Every breath of polluted air, every heatwave, and every extreme weather event directly impacts the patients we serve. In the UK, air pollution alone claims 1 in 20 lives¹, while climate change accelerates the spread of vector-borne diseases and heat-related illnesses².
We're taking action now. As part of the NHS - responsible for 4% of UK emissions - SWFT is driving transformative change to reach Net Zero by 2040³. Our ambitious 2025-2028 Green Plan doesn't just set targets; it delivers measurable impact through innovative solutions that enhance patient care while protecting our planet.
Our mission is clear: dramatically reduce our carbon footprint over the next three years while revolutionising how we deliver world-class healthcare.
Eleven Pillars of Transformation
🌟 Workforce and Systems Leadership - Empowering every team member to champion sustainability
🏥 Sustainable Models of Care - Reimagining patient pathways for maximum efficiency and minimal environmental impact
💻 Digital Transformation - Harnessing cutting-edge technology to eliminate waste and streamline services
🚗 Travel and Transport - Revolutionising how patients, staff and supplies move through our system
🏢 Estates and Facilities - Creating smart, energy-efficient spaces that heal both people and planet
💊 Medicines - Optimising pharmaceutical use to reduce waste and environmental impact
📦 Supply Chain and Procurement - Building sustainable partnerships that drive system-wide change
🍽Food and Nutrition - Nourishing patients and communities with locally-sourced, sustainable choices
♻Waste Management - Transforming our approach to waste through reduction, reuse and innovative recycling solutions
🌳 Green Spaces and Biodiversity - Creating healing gardens and natural environments that promote wellbeing while supporting local ecosystems
🌍 Adaptation - Future-proofing our services against climate risks while building resilience
SWFT is pioneering a new era of healthcare that puts environmental stewardship at the heart of excellent patient care. Together, we're creating a healthier future for our communities and our planet.
To meet our Net Zero target we’ve already made changes to our sites, including investing in spend-to-save schemes and collaborating with local partners. Changes include:
- Replacing over 70% of lighting with low-emission LEDs, with the aim of 100% coverage by the end of 2024
- Investing in renewable energy, including solar panels at Warwick and Leamington hospitals
- Reducing food waste by digitising patient ordering, and introducing food waste bins
- Introducing Cycle to Work and Car Share schemes to encourage active and lower-emission travel
- Developing new green spaces to promote biodiversity and wellbeing amongst staff and patients. We’ve also created a Warwick Hospital green spaces map to highlight these areas to staff, patients and visitors.
Our Trust has successfully applied for £8.1m and £6.1m in Phase 3b and 3c Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) funding, which will see the installation of heat pumps, solar panels and double glazing across our hospital sites. We have also been successful in applying for £235k NEEF funding to install solar panels at Leamington Hospital.
SWFT-ly Eco is our new Sustainability Platform with dedicated information and statistics on our Trust's sustainability projects and their impact.
Click here to access the platform. You can click on each tab on the webpage to find out more information about the sustainability impact of SWFT projects, Green Spaces and Green Champions. The success of each sustainability project has been measured by the number of trees saved!
