Towards Net Zero Award

HSJ Awards 2024 - Towards Net Zero Award
Towards Net Zero Award
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How to apply

  1. Register an account.
  2. Start your entry (save it in-progress).
  3. Submit your entry to be in the running.

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The NHS has committed to becoming the world’s first net zero health service, but achieving this goal requires more than just ambition - it demands real, measurable action at every level of the system. From decarbonising estates and electrifying transport fleets to embedding sustainable procurement and reducing clinical waste, trusts and healthcare organisations are driving innovative solutions to cut emissions while maintaining high-quality care.

This award recognises those leading the way in integrating sustainability into service delivery - whether by rethinking infrastructure and estates, making supply chains more sustainable, optimising energy use, or reducing carbon-intensive clinical practices. Judges will be looking for organisations that have turned sustainability commitments into action, demonstrating how green initiatives are not only reducing environmental impact but also improving efficiency, resilience, and patient outcomes.

Applicants should showcase tangible progress in reducing emissions, waste, water, and energy consumption, with initiatives that can scale and inspire wider adoption across the NHS. Whether through innovative partnerships, data-driven decision-making, or operational transformation, this award will celebrate those making a meaningful impact in creating a greener, more sustainable health service.

Eligibility

This award is open to all public NHS organisations within the UK.

Ambition

  • What have been the biggest environmental challenges facing your organisation or system in recent years?
  • Describe the vision for sustainable development across all areas of the organisation
  • How does that vision translate into specific green initiatives aimed at reducing water, carbon, energy consumption, single-use plastics or other waste?
  • What targets were set for these initiatives and how were they measured?

Outcome

  • How is the vision being achieved?
  • Describe the performance of green initiatives against targets, and include supporting evidence to display improvements over time
  • Provide specific examples of how individual projects feed into the wider vision for sustainable development, and how they will achieve lasting impact
  • Evidence how sustainability principles been embedded within the organisation’s processes and policies

Spread

  • Evidence how sustainable development is becoming business as usual across the organisation
  • Show how initial successes of the specific initiatives mentioned earlier can be replicated and scaled up in the future
  • Describe any work undertaken to spread best practice learning with other healthcare organisations or the general public

Value

  • Describe the overall environmental impact achieved so far
  • Discuss how the initiatives and activities enable compliance with the Climate Change Act, Environmental Protection Act and/or other key legislation
  • Evidence efficiency gains, both in terms of waste reduction and cost savings

Involvement

  • Show how the organisation has engaged staff across multiple functions and departments to challenge ‘business as usual’ thinking and deliver the vision
  • Evidence how patients, service users or the wider community have been involved in the design and implementation of green initiatives
  • Describe any partnership or collaborative working either with a supplier or other entity

Towards Net Zero Award

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To find out more

Partnership opportunities:  Sponsorship Sales Team
Awards entry enquiries: Delegate Sales Team
Judging and event management: Awards Support