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{{org_field_name}}

Registration Number: {{org_field_registration_no}}

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Reducing Carbon Footprint and Environmental Sustainability in Care Home Services Policy

1. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that {{org_field_name}} takes appropriate steps to reduce its environmental impact through environmentally responsible practices within the care home, while ensuring that environmental measures do not compromise the safety, health, dignity, well-being or assessed care and support needs of individuals using the service.

This policy outlines the organisation’s commitment to reducing unnecessary energy consumption, using resources responsibly, managing waste lawfully and promoting environmentally sustainable working practices while maintaining safe and high-quality care and support.

{{org_field_name}} will ensure that environmental practices undertaken through this policy comply with applicable environmental, waste management, health and safety and regulatory requirements. In particular, the service will comply with the Environmental Protection Act 1990, including applicable waste duty of care requirements, the Waste Separation Requirements (Wales) Regulations 2023, as amended, and relevant requirements of the Regulated Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals) (Wales) Regulations 2017, as amended.

The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 places statutory well-being duties on specified public bodies. Where {{org_field_name}} is not itself a body subject to those statutory duties, the organisation will nevertheless support the principles of sustainable development and environmental responsibility where these are consistent with the safe and effective provision of the regulated service.

Environmental objectives under this policy will not take priority over the provider’s duties to:

• protect the safety and well-being of individuals;
• provide care and support in accordance with individuals’ assessed needs and personal plans;
• maintain appropriate staffing arrangements;
• maintain suitable premises, facilities and equipment;
• meet infection prevention and control requirements;
• meet health and safety requirements; and
• comply with the requirements applying to the regulated care home service.

2. Scope

This policy applies to {{org_field_name}}’s care home premises and, where relevant, to all staff, agency workers, volunteers, contractors and other persons undertaking activities on behalf of the service.

Environmental measures implemented under this policy must not compromise the safety, health, dignity, well-being or assessed care and support needs of individuals using the service.

This policy covers:

• reducing unnecessary energy consumption and improving energy efficiency where this can be achieved safely;
• minimising waste and ensuring that waste is separated, stored, transferred and disposed of in accordance with applicable Welsh legislation;
• ensuring that recyclable workplace waste is separated as required by law;
• reducing reliance on unnecessary single-use materials where alternatives are safe, appropriate and compatible with infection prevention and control requirements;
• ensuring the correct management of food waste, electrical waste, hazardous waste and clinical waste;
• encouraging environmentally responsible work-related travel where this can be achieved without affecting staffing levels, emergency arrangements, continuity of care or the needs and personal outcomes of individuals using the service;
• using digital systems, where appropriate, to reduce unnecessary paper use while maintaining applicable record-keeping, confidentiality and data protection requirements;
• providing staff with information relevant to their responsibilities under this policy; and
• monitoring environmental practices sufficiently to ensure continued legal and regulatory compliance.

3. Energy Efficiency and Reduction

Optimising Energy Use

• Ensure office equipment, such as computers, printers, and lights, are turned off when not in use.
• Use energy-efficient LED lighting and motion-sensor controls in common areas to prevent unnecessary power usage.
• Reduce heating and cooling energy consumption by maintaining appropriate temperature settings and using programmable thermostats.

Renewable Energy

• Explore the feasibility of installing renewable energy sources such as solar panels.
• Consider switching to green energy suppliers that provide renewable electricity and low-carbon energy options.

Energy Usage Monitoring

• Conduct regular energy audits to track and reduce energy wastage.
• Implement smart meters to measure and regulate office energy consumption.

4. Waste Reduction and Recycling

{{org_field_name}} will ensure that waste generated through the operation of the care home is managed safely, lawfully and in accordance with applicable Welsh waste legislation.

Environmental objectives to reduce waste must not result in inappropriate disposal of clinical, infectious, pharmaceutical or hazardous waste, or compromise infection prevention and control requirements.

Statutory Separation of Workplace Waste

{{org_field_name}} will comply with the workplace waste separation requirements applying in Wales.

Recyclable materials arising at the care home must be presented separately for collection and must not be placed in general residual waste where separate collection is required by law.

The service will make arrangements, as applicable, for the separate collection of:

• paper and card;
• glass;
• metals, plastics and cartons and similar fibre-plastic composite packaging;
• food waste where the premises produces 5 kg or more of food waste during any period of seven consecutive days;
• applicable unsold small waste electrical and electronic equipment, where relevant;
• small waste electrical and electronic equipment as required by the Welsh workplace recycling requirements from 6 April 2026; and
• applicable textiles where required by the legislation.

Waste streams may only be combined where this is expressly permitted under the applicable Welsh workplace recycling requirements.

Staff must use the waste containers provided for the appropriate waste stream and must not knowingly place recyclable material into general waste where separate collection is legally required.

Recyclable waste which has been separately collected must not knowingly be subsequently mixed with general residual waste contrary to applicable requirements.

Food Waste

Where {{org_field_name}} produces 5 kg or more of food waste during any period of seven consecutive days, food waste must be separated from other waste and presented separately for collection in accordance with the applicable Welsh workplace recycling requirements.

The service will monitor food waste production where necessary to determine whether the applicable threshold is met.

Food waste must not be disposed of into a public sewer.

Equipment such as macerators, disposal units or liquidisers must therefore not be used for the purpose of disposing of food waste into drains or the sewer.

Food waste storage arrangements must also comply with relevant food hygiene, infection prevention and control and pest management requirements.

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment

Waste electrical and electronic equipment must not automatically be treated as general waste.

Applicable electrical and electronic equipment, including computers, telephones and other electrical equipment, must be handled separately and transferred through lawful waste management arrangements.

From 6 April 2026, applicable small waste electrical and electronic equipment arising from the workplace must be separated for recycling in accordance with the Welsh workplace recycling requirements.

Batteries must be segregated and managed in accordance with applicable waste and battery disposal requirements and must not be placed in general residual waste where separate collection or disposal requirements apply.

The service must ensure that electrical equipment containing personal, confidential or sensitive information is also disposed of in accordance with the organisation’s data protection and information security requirements.

Waste Duty of Care

{{org_field_name}} will take reasonable steps to ensure that controlled waste produced by the service is stored, handled, transferred and managed lawfully.

The service will:

• use appropriately authorised waste carriers and waste management contractors;
• take reasonable steps to confirm that persons receiving waste from the service are authorised to receive it;
• provide an accurate description of waste when it is transferred;
• ensure that the appropriate waste transfer notes, consignment documentation or other required records are completed;
• retain waste documentation for the period required by applicable legislation;
• ensure waste is stored securely and does not create an avoidable risk to individuals, staff, visitors or the environment; and
• take reasonable steps to prevent the unlawful deposit, treatment, storage or disposal of waste.

Clinical and Hazardous Waste

Environmental and recycling objectives must never result in clinical, infectious, pharmaceutical or hazardous waste being placed into an inappropriate recycling or general waste stream.

Clinical and hazardous waste must be appropriately identified, segregated, stored, handled and disposed of through the service’s approved waste arrangements and in accordance with applicable legislation, national guidance, infection prevention and control requirements and the organisation’s relevant policies and procedures.

Appropriate containers must be used for clinical and hazardous waste, including sharps where applicable.

Staff must follow the service’s waste classification and disposal procedures where there is uncertainty about the correct waste stream.

Reducing Single-Use Items

Where safe and appropriate, {{org_field_name}} will seek to reduce unnecessary use of disposable items and use reusable alternatives.

However, reusable alternatives must not be introduced where doing so would conflict with:

• infection prevention and control requirements;
• food hygiene requirements;
• manufacturers’ instructions;
• an individual’s assessed care and support needs;
• health and safety requirements; or
• other applicable legal or professional requirements.

Staff may be encouraged to use refillable water bottles and reusable mugs for their own personal use where this is compatible with infection prevention and control and food hygiene arrangements.

Sustainable Procurement

Where appropriate, {{org_field_name}} will consider environmental impact when purchasing goods and services.

This may include:

• purchasing recycled or responsibly sourced paper;
• reducing unnecessary packaging;
• purchasing appropriate quantities to reduce avoidable waste; and
• selecting products which can be safely reused, recycled or disposed of through available waste arrangements.

Procurement decisions must not compromise the quality, suitability, safety or availability of equipment, supplies or products required for the care and support of individuals.

5. Sustainable Transport and Travel

Encouraging Low-Carbon Travel

• Promote the use of public transport, carpooling, and cycling as preferred commuting options for staff.
• Provide secure bicycle storage, shower facilities, and cycle-to-work schemes to encourage staff to use bicycles for their commute.

Reducing Fuel Emissions

• Encourage the transition to electric or hybrid vehicles for domiciliary care visits where feasible.
• Implement a vehicle-sharing policy among domiciliary care staff to reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions.
• Use route optimisation software to ensure efficient domiciliary care travel, reducing unnecessary mileage and emissions.

Remote and Flexible Working

• Where possible, encourage remote working for administrative tasks to reduce commuting emissions.
• Promote hybrid working models to balance in-office presence with sustainability goals.

6. Paperless and Digital Working

Reducing Paper Usage

• Transition to digital record-keeping and electronic care planning systems to eliminate reliance on paper-based files.
• Use electronic invoicing and digital signatures to streamline administrative processes and reduce paper waste.

Virtual Meetings

• Promote virtual meetings and video conferencing for staff discussions and external communications to reduce the environmental impact of travel.
• Implement digital collaboration tools to enhance remote working and reduce the need for printed materials.

Eco-Friendly Printing Practices

• Implement a policy of double-sided printing when printing is unavoidable to reduce paper usage.
• Use recycled or FSC-certified paper for essential printing needs.
• Set printer defaults to monochrome and draft mode to minimise ink and toner consumption.

7. Staff Training and Engagement

Environmental Awareness Training

• Provide dedicated training sessions for staff on sustainable office practices and reducing the carbon footprint.
• Ensure all new employees receive sustainability induction training as part of their onboarding process.

Green Champions Initiative

• Nominate and train ‘Green Champions’ among staff to lead sustainability initiatives and encourage best practices across the organisation.

Encouraging Employee Involvement

• Conduct regular staff engagement sessions to gather ideas for further sustainability improvements.
• Implement reward schemes and recognition programmes for employees who actively contribute to reducing carbon emissions.
• Develop a staff sustainability pledge to encourage commitment to eco-friendly workplace practices.

8. Compliance and Monitoring

Environmental Compliance Monitoring

{{org_field_name}} will monitor environmental practices sufficiently to ensure that the requirements of this policy and applicable environmental and waste legislation are being followed.

Monitoring may include:

• checking that required waste streams are appropriately separated;
• checking that waste storage arrangements remain safe and appropriate;
• verifying that authorised waste contractors are being used;
• maintaining required waste transfer and consignment documentation;
• checking that clinical and hazardous waste is appropriately segregated;
• monitoring compliance with food waste requirements;
• checking arrangements for electrical and electronic waste; and
• identifying and addressing failures to comply with this policy.

Any identified breach of statutory waste requirements must be addressed promptly.

Legal and Regulatory Compliance

{{org_field_name}} will ensure that environmental practices implemented under this policy comply with applicable Welsh environmental and waste legislation.

Environmental initiatives must also be implemented in a manner that does not compromise compliance with:

• the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016;
• the Regulated Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals) (Wales) Regulations 2017, as amended;
• statutory guidance applying to the regulated service;
• health and safety requirements;
• infection prevention and control requirements;
• food safety requirements;
• data protection requirements; and
• other legislation applicable to the operation of the care home.

The service will ensure that environmental measures do not adversely affect:

• individuals’ safety and well-being;
• dignity and respect;
• care and support provided in accordance with personal plans;
• staffing levels or deployment;
• continuity of care;
• availability of necessary supplies;
• infection prevention and control;
• the suitability or safety of premises;
• the availability, cleanliness or maintenance of equipment; or
• emergency arrangements.

Records required by environmental and waste legislation, including relevant waste transfer documentation and hazardous waste documentation where applicable, will be retained in accordance with the applicable legal requirements.

Environmental measures must not be described as a specific CIW requirement unless they arise from legislation, regulations or statutory guidance applicable to the regulated service.

Continuous Improvement

{{org_field_name}} may establish environmental improvement objectives where appropriate.

Any environmental improvement measures introduced by the service must be:

• proportionate to the nature and size of the service;
• compatible with the Statement of Purpose;
• consistent with the needs of individuals using the service;
• safe and practicable;
• consistent with applicable legal and regulatory obligations; and
• reviewed where changes to legislation or service delivery make this necessary.

The service will update this policy where relevant legislation or statutory regulatory requirements change.

9. Legal and Regulatory Framework

This policy must be implemented in accordance with the legislation and statutory requirements applicable to the service.

Relevant legislation and regulatory requirements include, where applicable:

• Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016;
• Regulated Services (Service Providers and Responsible Individuals) (Wales) Regulations 2017, as amended;
• Statutory Guidance for service providers and responsible individuals on meeting service standard regulations, issued under the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016;
• Environmental Protection Act 1990, including applicable waste duty of care requirements;
• Waste Separation Requirements (Wales) Regulations 2023, as amended;
• applicable Welsh statutory guidance and Codes of Practice relating to the separate collection of workplace waste for recycling;
• Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011, as applicable in Wales;
• Hazardous Waste (Wales) Regulations 2005, as amended;
• Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2013, as amended; and
• applicable health and safety and infection prevention and control legislation and statutory requirements.

The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 places statutory duties on specified public bodies in Wales. Where {{org_field_name}} is not a body to which those statutory duties directly apply, the organisation may nevertheless support the principles of sustainable development and environmental responsibility as part of its organisational approach.

Nothing within this policy removes or reduces the service provider’s obligation to comply with the requirements applying to the regulated care home service.

Where there is any conflict between an environmental objective contained within this policy and a statutory requirement relating to an individual’s health, safety, well-being or care and support, the statutory care, safety and regulatory requirement must take priority.

10. Related Policies

This policy should be read in conjunction with:

• CHW16 – Health and Safety at Work Policy;
• CHW35 – Risk Assessment and Management Policy;
• CHW40 – Digital Security and Data Protection Policy;
• CHW42 – Staff Training and Development Policy;
• CHW45 – Ethical and Sustainable Procurement Policy;
• the organisation’s Infection Prevention and Control Policy;
• the organisation’s Waste Management and Clinical Waste Policy, where maintained separately;
• the organisation’s Food Safety Policy, where applicable; and
• any other policy relevant to the safe management and disposal of waste.

Where another organisational policy contains more detailed requirements for clinical waste, hazardous waste, infection prevention and control or information security, staff must comply with those requirements in addition to this policy.

11. Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed at least annually or sooner where:

• there is a relevant change in legislation or statutory guidance;
• there is a relevant change in CIW regulatory requirements;
• Welsh workplace recycling or waste management requirements change;
• there is a significant change to the service or its Statement of Purpose;
• monitoring identifies that the policy is no longer effective or accurate; or
• an incident, audit or regulatory finding identifies that amendments are required.

The service provider will ensure that the policy remains appropriate to the needs of individuals for whom care and support is provided, is consistent with the Statement of Purpose and is kept up to date.

Relevant changes will be communicated to staff, and additional information, instruction or training will be provided where necessary to ensure that staff understand and follow the revised requirements.

Records of policy review and significant amendments will be maintained in accordance with {{org_field_name}}’s governance arrangements.

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Responsible Person: {{org_field_registered_manager_first_name}} {{org_field_registered_manager_last_name}}
Reviewed on: {{last_update_date}}
Next Review Date: {{next_review_date}}
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