We know that what we do today shapes tomorrow. That’s why we’re taking responsibility by striving to reduce the impact of our day-to-day operations. Guided by our values, we are working to do better for our community, environment and the world, because protecting the planet is a responsibility we all share.
What is the Investors in Environment (iiE) accreditation?
Our commitment to Investors in the Environment (IiE) accreditation is our way of bettering ourselves, to be better for the environment. IiE is a national environmental accreditation scheme designed to help organisations across the UK reduce their impact on the environment. They provide help and support, by offering practical tools, training and support to reduce an organisation’s environmental impact, helping them to meet green targets.
This commitment also ensures we remain aligned with the NHS’s zero-carbon objectives and compliance requirements, strengthening our shared ambition to reduce environmental impact as an organisation.
Our Director of Finance, Martin Horbury, shares:
“Our IiE journey reflects a deep commitment to embedding sustainability into every aspect of our operations. This accreditation is not just a badge; it demonstrates that we are actively reducing our environmental impact while aligning with best practices that benefit both our organisation and the wider community. It’s about making responsible choices today that secure a better future for our clients, colleagues, and stakeholders.”
Our staff and sustainability
Our own iiE journey began this year conducting a survey to find out the existing how our staff feel about our current sustainability and what their own current behaviours are towards sustainability.
The survey found that over 70% of staff feel motivated and already take action when it comes to the environment, while a smaller group feels motivated but are unsure where to start.
The survey also found that more than 60% of staff are fully willing to participate in environmental initiatives, with around 30% willing if shown how.
We can see that there is an overall willingness to want to do better for the environment, particularly when it comes to supporting us in a mission to be more environmentally friendly.
Staff also listed energy, waste reduction, transport and paper as the key areas of action for us.
As part of the survey, we also enlisted a working group of ‘Green Champions’ volunteers to support our efforts to become a more sustainable organisation.
Our Green Champions expressed a number of reasons for getting involved, such as influencing organisational sustainability, improving waste management and recycling practices, inspiring others at work, promoting sustainable suppliers and improving energy consumption.
What have we done so far?
We have taken significant steps to improve environmental impact, as part of our commitment to the IiE accreditation.
We began by benchmarking our utility usage and carrying out an energy consumption analysis. We have also reviewed our office consumables to identify opportunities to reduce waste and make more sustainable choices, such as more biodegradable, plant-based products, and free from plastic packaging.
We are continuing to build on our sustainability efforts by reviewing current and planned initiatives aimed at reducing our carbon footprint. This includes looking closely at travel patterns, promoting greener commuting options, and sharing practical energy-saving tips for both office and home working.
We are also continuing to train our ‘Green Champions’ working group and exploring ways we can educate staff on sustainability, including waste monitoring and further recycling initiatives.
One of our Green Champions, Maybelline Byrne, shares:
“Being part of the Green Team has really opened my eyes to our purchasing choices at Small Mill. It's been incredibly educational, revealing that it's not just about the type of material used, but the entire life cycle of a product. This includes the production methods, delivery, and how it can be utilised at the end of its life to provide renewable energy for other areas. I've enjoyed been able to put this learning into practice when looking into what suppliers we work with and the type of products we are buying.”
As we move forward, our efforts will continue to work towards aligning with the NHS’s zero carbon plans and requirements, aiming to achieve our shared goal of reducing environmental impact across the healthcare sector.
Our journey toward sustainability is ongoing - every step we take brings us closer to creating a greener, more responsible future. But real change happens when we work together. If you’d like to learn more about our environmental initiatives, share ideas, or get involved, we’d love to hear from you on our Bluesky or LinkedIn.
