UHP Publishes its 2025/2026 Annual Sustainability Report
It’s that time of year again! We have refreshed our Annual Sustainability Report 2025/2026 to incorporate the work completed this year and our plans for the next.
Our Annual Sustainability Report provides an update on the Trust’s progress towards both its corporate objectives articulated in the Green Plan and the principal risks set out in the Board Assurance Framework (BAF), and its responsibilities to report and deliver on achieving a net zero carbon estate by 2040. Broader sustainability commitments in terms of behavioural change, procurement plans and collaboration initiatives with partners are also included.
The report covers how over the past 12 months, the Trust has continued to embed its sustainability programme across both clinical and non-clinical departments with some excellent success. 2026 saw the introduction of Green Impact at UHP which is an employee engagement programme provided by SOS-UK that makes environmental and social sustainability achievable for everyone. 30 teams signed up in total and 8 achieved a bronze award while 4 achieved a gold award. Impressive sustainability work came out of the programme, such as Audiology switching to rechargeable hearing aid batteries and the Discovery Library’s work toorganise and host the first Uniform Swap for staff across the trust.
In a similar vein, we’re proud to report that our Emergency Department were successfully awarded the silver accreditation for the Royal College of Emergency Medicine Green ED programme. One of only 6 Trusts in the country to achieve this award, the Green ED multidisciplinary team has delivered measurable sustainable improvements including: reduced unnecessary testing, reduction in unnecessary IV medications and overseas donation of used crutches. Additionally, over the past year staff have continued to complete Carbon Literacy for Healthcare training. This latest cohort included consultants, physician associates, radiographers, and scientists—broadening the reach of climate awareness across key departments and further embedding sustainability into daily operations.
We also made headway in terms of air quality; The Trust has achieved a rating of ‘Good’ in the Clean Air Hospital framework as a result of indoor and outdoor air quality monitoring, improved wayfinding to green spaces, and adoption of air quality considerations for building and maintenance work. We continue to work with local partners to empower patients with information about how damp and mould affect air quality whilst also supporting national campaigns such as clean air day. Improving green spaces has the impact of improving air quality whilst also increasing biodiversity. Indeed, internal habitat management, such as the 15kg of wildflower seeds planted in November 2025, alongside biodiversity net gain obligations will keep us on track to meet our objectives by 2030. Hosting Plymouth City Bus and Plymouth City Council’s Public Transport team for Catch the Bus Week 2025 demonstrated our commitment to encouraging sustainable transport for improved air quality.
Hospital infrastructure has also been decarbonised this year; our Estates team and anaesthesia lead have worked together to decommission piped nitrous oxide in most of our theatres and our Emergency Department as per national guidance. These areas are using portable cylinders instead, which provide gas only when needed and avoid the inefficiencies associated with older infrastructure. Additionally, supported by more than £1.2 million in government funding, UHP will be installing around 1,400 solar panels., enabling UHP to generate a greater proportion of its own renewable electricity on site. Alongside this, UHP were successful in receiving a share of £74million to adopt clean energy technologies, with £703,000 allocated to install LED fittings, that will reduce consumption by 540MWh annually, equating to £130,000/year. Increasing the use of renewable energy on site and energy efficiency measures in this way will significantly reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.
In terms of waste, the Trust has significantly increased recycling rates with over 130 tonnes processed in the final four months of 2025/26. Targeted waste segregation initiatives have been introduced to support behaviour change among staff, improving the correct disposal of waste streams. This comes in the form of better bin placement, and visuals aimed to remind staff which bin to use.
Download the report and read about all these case studies and more! Read our 2025/2026 Annual Sustainability report For more info, please email the Sustainability team at plh-tr.sustainability@nhs.net
