About the Project

NHS staff have a key role in achieving Net Zero for NHS Scotland. Through a pop-up installation to engage staff in Ninewells Hospital, Tayside, early research reveals that while staff practice sustainability at home or can see why Net Zero is important for the NHS, they are uncertain about the best ways to direct their efforts in the workplace.

The Green Ward Toolkit aims to guide hospital staff, providing tools and education to empower them in implementing new sustainable practices. Our research is underpinned by a design-led approach where the involvement of successive and iterative stages is required in designing an effective Green Ward Toolkit. By integrating design experts with healthcare professionals in the development of the toolkit, it is anticipated that strong support for NHS staff will naturally emerge. Anticipated benefits include environmental and social benefits, enhanced patient outcomes, and economic long-term savings. The penultimate goal is to extend the engagement process for Net Zero objectives by 2040.

The toolkit will serve as a crucial guide to educate and empower healthcare workers, helping them integrate sustainable practices into their current clinical and non-clinical operations through its structured resources. Utilising the triple bottom line framework, we aim to establish a baseline through an environmental impact assessment, empower and engage NHS staff, and ultimately reduce costs throughout Ninewells and beyond through future impacts in response to completed activities.