CELEBRATING SUSTAINABILITY: COVENTRY AND WARWICKSHIRE GREEN TEAM COMPETITION 2025
3 April 2025
On Thursday 13th March, healthcare professionals from across Coventry and Warwickshire gathered at the historic Old Shire Room in Warwick for the inaugural Green Team Competition and Sustainability Showcase, hosted by the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare..jpg)
The event celebrated innovative projects that are actively reducing environmental impact while delivering safe, effective healthcare. Organised in partnership with NHS Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care System (ICS), the competition demonstrated that sustainability is everyone’s responsibility and should be embedded in the core mission of healthcare delivery.
Eight teams from across the region presented their work, with each project assessed on its financial, environmental, and social benefits, as well as clinical outcomes. Judges also looked for robust planning, stakeholder engagement, and steps to ensure long-term change.
Laura Nelson, Chief Integration Officer at NHS Coventry & Warwickshire ICS, opened the event by stating:
“It is great to see so many front-line services exploring new ways of working through a sustainable lens. Projects like the ones we’re going to hear about today are vital and will lead the way to delivering on our net zero promise.”
The Maternity team from George Eliot Hospital (GEH) won the competition with their innovative project redesigning booking processes for low-risk pregnancies. This change saved approximately 42 hours of clinical time each week, reduced emissions from patient travel, and increased overall patient satisfaction. Their project demonstrated strategic thinking, robust data measurement, and excellent stakeholder engagement.
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Abbie Le-Blancq, speaking on behalf of the Maternity team, said:
“This project shows that by listening to staff and patients, and collaboratively working together on improving practical solutions, we can deliver real improvements that support both healthcare quality and environmental sustainability, whilst highlighting the importance of poverty deprivation and the implications this holds for our patients.”
The REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE project from the Critical Care Team, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) was highly commended at the event. This triple-impact project reduced unnecessary equipment in central line packs, explored reusable PPE, and introduced recycling for nasogastric feed and nutritional supplement bottles. Over the course of a year, this will save 547 kg of CO2e and cut disposal costs by 74%.
Cath Richards, SusQI Programme Lead at the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare, reflected:
“What we’ve seen today is a collective commitment to building a greener NHS. These teams are setting the standard for practical, measurable action.”
Together, the projects presented at the event are projected to save over £27,000 annually, reduce carbon emissions by more than 1,500 kg of CO2e, and significantly reduce clinical time and waste across multiple services.
The day was more than a competition, it was a reminder of what’s possible when healthcare professionals unite around a shared mission. The event highlighted that sustainability belongs to everyone and is integral to delivering high-quality, future-ready care. The innovative projects shared will no doubt inspire continued action and collaboration across Coventry and Warwickshire.
Congratulations to all who took part for leading the way toward a greener, more sustainable healthcare system.