Dry mixed recycling rate at hospital sites
31.4%
2023: 23.5%
Source: Spire Healthcare waste report 2024
Sustainability
We want to become recognised as a leader in sustainability in healthcare. Our sustainability strategy seeks to drive positive change in the workplace, our local communities and the environment.
Championing sustainability
We launched our first sustainability strategy in 2022 to address environmental, social and governance issues. We are working towards net zero carbon emissions by 2030 and were the first large independent sector hospital provider to commit to this. Spire Healthcare seeks to contribute to the UK’s healthcare workforce, running a large nurse apprenticeship scheme and supporting colleagues to develop the professional and leadership skills they need to further their careers. Quality underpins everything we do.
We continue to support equity, diversity and inclusion and promote allyship, and lead the sector in women on boards. Colleagues play an important part in their communities, and we give back to people in these areas though charity endeavours. We work hard to share a welcoming culture which is open, collaborative, and focused on safety and a spirit of continuous improvement.
"In 2024, we improved waste segregation and reduction, removing 358.15 tonnes of CO2. This is the equivalent of planting 1,194 trees, removing 134 cars from the roads or powering 218 houses for a year."
Highlights
Female representation at board level
50%
2023: 45%
Source: Spire Healthcare data
Progress in 2024
Reduce carbon emissions
In 2024, we invested over £10 million on installing photovoltaic solar panels and building management systems throughout our hospital estate, reducing emissions.
Manage our waste more efficiently
Ensuring that we manage our waste properly, and recycle what we can, is vitally important for a business like ours in the healthcare sector. In 2024, we further improved recycling rates.
Identify opportunities to reduce use of single-use plastics
The use of plastics is a major environmental issue across the healthcare industry in the UK and globally. Our use of reusable sharps bins in 2024 diverted over 20,000 containers from incineration.
Our purpose, strategy and sustainability ambition
Spire Healthcare’s purpose, strategy and sustainability ambition are integrally linked to each other. By managing sustainability successfully, we aim to create lasting economic and social value.
Our goals
- Leading the sector in delivering carbon neutral by 2030
- Contributor to Britain’s healthcare workforce and a diverse employer
- Protect and manage all sensitive data
- Reduction in waste and improved recycling
Highlights of 2024
- Waste management initiatives saved over 2,700 tonnes of CO2, up from 358 tonnes in 2023
- 48% of overall waste is recycled in the hospitals business, up from 35% in 2023
- 50% female representation at board level at end of 2024
- Increased female representation in senior leadership roles to 55% (2023: 53%)
- 20.4% of hospitals business colleagues classify themselves as non-white by ethnicity, up from 18.9% in 2023
Priorities for 2025
- Refresh of sustainability goals to better reflect the whole group
- Refresh carbon reduction targets
- Increase recycling rates
- Better understanding of diversity, inclusion and belonging to improve patient and colleague experience
Social value
We strive to be a sustainable company, delivering environmental, social and economic benefits while caring for our patients. ‘Social value’ means what we are doing for our communities, our colleagues and our planet that adds value above and beyond our core work.
These extra benefits may be in:
- Work: contributing to training healthcare professionals through our apprenticeship programmes
- Economy: delivering good quality healthcare to patients who need it the most
- Community: community efforts to support local businesses and charities
- Planet: managing waste sustainably
- Innovation: finding new ways to deliver services which are better for people and the planet
Read more on how Spire Healthcare contributes to society and the environment.
