NHS Forth Valley is committed to meeting the national NHS Scotland target of achieving Net Zero emissions by 2040. Raching this ambitious goal will require sustained effort across all services, and support is now being sought from the Senior Leadership Team to help accelerate this vital work.
Rising Waste Levels Highlight the Need for Action
Forth Valley Royal Hospital is currently experiencing excessive clinical waste generation, particularly in operating theatres and other clinical areas. Despite the establishment of a dedicated Sustainable Care Team, which is already delivering a range of cost-saving and energy-efficient initiatives, significant volumes of waste, carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other harmful emissions continue to be produced.
This work aligns closely with the priorities of the Climate Emergency Response Team (CERT), which focuses on resilience, responsible resource use, environmentally sustainable healthcare, and the adoption of a circular economy.
Local Projects Already Making an Impact
A number of successful initiatives are already helping to reduce carbon emissions and generate financial savings:
| Project | CO₂ Savings | Cost Savings |
| HVAC efficiencies | 250 tonnes | £200,000 |
| Lean surgical trays (TKR) | 1.35 tonnes | £21,903 |
| Anaesthetic Gas Scavenging (out of hours) | 20 tonnes | £20,000 |
| Neptune fluid collection system | 5 tonnes | £15,000 |
| Reusable caps | 0.4 tonnes | £8,000 |
Assessment Shows Significant Further Opportunities
An assessment of current projects and new ideas emerging from Sustainable Care Team meetings shows there are numerous opportunities for further carbon and cost savings. These are detailed in the SBAR presented to the Climate Emergency and Sustainability Board on 27 August 2025.
Given current capacity, it is proposed that the next phase of work focuses on five priority projects, while several other initiatives continue to progress in parallel.
