How Can the NHS Plate Up Sustainable Food Alternatives? - Event Write-Up
The second Sustainability Day of Action webinar tackled the critical, yet challenging topic of integrating sustainable nutrition within the healthcare system.
The NHS constantly strives to balance cost-effectiveness with top-notch patient care; however, budget limitations often push areas like sustainable nutrition to the back burner. This webinar explored how the NHS can align its nutritional needs with its environmental goals through practices like seasonal menus, plant-based alternatives and anaerobic digestion.
The webinar featured NHS professionals, industry leaders, and innovative businesses, who delved into the complexities and opportunities of implementing sustainable nutrition in the NHS.
Featured speakers included:
Andrew Berry - Senior Team Leader, University Hospitals Leicester
Becky Mears - Managing Director, Season Well
Grant Keenan - Managing Director, Keenan Recycling
Setting the scene was Andrew Berry, a Senior Team Leader at University Hospitals of Leicester.
With over 13 years of experience as a Chef Supervisor, Andy Berry provided valuable insights into the NHS's goals for reducing the carbon footprint of food served. He highlighted their commitment to increasing plant-based options, aiming for 50% by December 2024 and a staggering 70% by next year.
Next, we welcomed Becky Mears, Managing Director of Season Well, a social enterprise dedicated to promoting seasonal eating habits.
Becky shared their success story collaborating with Leeds Teaching Hospitals, where an unused green space was transformed into a staff wellbeing garden. Season Well highlighted the importance of connecting people with their food sources through community gardening projects and emphasised the numerous benefits, including improved staff well-being and a reduction in food waste.
Concluding the webinar was Grant Keenan, Managing Director of Keenan Recycling. Grant discussed the crucial role of diverting food waste from landfills and transforming it into valuable resources like compost and renewable energy through anaerobic digestion.
He also showcased Keenan Recycling's commitment to sustainability, emphasising their journey towards a Net Zero fleet by 2030 through the use of eco-friendly vehicles powered by hydrogen, HVO (Hydrolysed Vegetable Oil), and CNG (Compressed Natural Gas).
Overall, the webinar provided valuable insights into the NHS's efforts to achieve sustainable food practices. It highlighted the importance of:
Increasing plant-based options
Sourcing local and seasonal produce
Reducing and recycling food waste
Connecting people with their food sources
By implementing these strategies, the NHS can not only enhance patient care but also contribute to a greener and more sustainable future.
Thank you to all our speakers for their expert insight, be sure to sign up to our next informative webinar: From Patients to Planet: Building a Nature-Positive NHS