Dr Heather Baid said: “The Intensive Care Environmental Sustainability Recipe Book was developed as a collaborative national project using feedback from clinical staff and service users. There are recipes for different topics to provide the ingredients and methods for ICUs in the UK to reduce their carbon footprint. ICUs use large amounts of resources and create high volumes of waste causing environmental damage – the Recipe Book is a practical, ‘how-to-guide’ on maintaining quality care that is good for patients, but in a way that is also good for the planet.”
Professor Hugh Montgomery, Co-Chair of the Intensive Care Society’s Environmental Sustainability Working Group said: "We have all ignored the warnings. It is now almost too late for us and our children. To stand any chance, we have to do everything that we can in every sphere of our lives. Being 'more sustainable' isn't enough. This Recipe Book is part of the answer. Join us. Do all that is in it and a great deal more.”
Dr Jack-Parry Jones, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine said: "People, Planet and Profit. Each element of this triple bottom line is vital, with this recipe book providing some of the necessary tools for critical care multi-disciplinary teams to contribute to preserving a planet worth surviving critical illness for, to reduce waste, and improve efficiency. The Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine has recently embedded elements of environmental sustainability into our Intensive Care Medical training curriculum so future generations of intensivists learn the importance of sustainable value-based health care. This recipe book will play a crucial role."
Nicki Credland, the Chair of the UK Critical Care Nursing Alliance (UKCCNA), said: “Environmental sustainability is increasingly relevant to ICU clinical practice, education, quality improvement, and research as healthcare systems face growing pressures to reduce their ecological impact. Embracing environmental sustainability not only benefits the planet but also contributes to a more ethical, efficient, and resilient healthcare system. This recipe book is a huge step in the right direction.”
The official launch of the Recipe Book takes place on 27 February, from 4– 4.45pm (online via Zoom). It’s open to all and will feature expert discussions and a live Q+A for ICU professionals, healthcare workers, and anyone interested in greener healthcare solutions. .
The university has long been dedicated to finding real-world solutions to environmental challenges, and this initiative is a key example of how academic expertise can drive meaningful change in critical sectors.
With only a handful of similar projects worldwide, this initiative reinforces the Ογ½ΆΦ±²₯’s commitment to tackling climate change through research, innovation, and education.
This work was funded through SBRI Healthcare, an Accelerated Access Collaborative (AAC) programme, in partnership with the Health Innovation Network and Greener NHS. The views expressed in the publication(s) are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of SBRI Healthcare or its stakeholders.