Richard Woodward, General Manager of Care Homes for apetito
In recent years, the human impact on the environment has been spoken about more than ever, and our responsibilities as both individuals and businesses towards limiting this impact have become more important.
Whilst everybody understands that doing business in a more sustainable way and addressing carbon emissions is clearly “the right thing to do”, it is also becoming more recognised and measured for most businesses through regulatory bodies – encouraging them to step up and make change.
This emerging shift in reporting and regulation shows the increasing demand for transparency in this space, and for businesses to demonstrate their approach in reducing environmental impacts. Care homes, with their potential for high energy consumption, water usage and waste generation, can have a significant environmental footprint, therefore making even small changes could create large impact.
Fundamentally, weaving sustainability into business is the right thing to do for the environment and long-term health of the planet. But beyond that, there are plenty of other good reasons why homes should be prioritising sustainable practices.
With sustainability climbing up the priority list, more people are beginning to form an opinion on the subject. This additional public perception demands more action from businesses to ensure they are prioritising social responsibility and maintain both reputation and credibility. When it comes to choosing a care home for a loved one, families are likely starting to take sustainability into consideration too. Therefore, having a plan in place with a clear direction may actually help care homes to attract residents and drive business growth.
Alongside this, there may be opportunities for homes to see cost savings through making some sustainable switches. For instance, cutting down on food waste during mealtimes, perhaps by using pre-portioned meal solutions, can be advantageous both environmentally and economically. This approach means less money goes "down the drain" with discarded meals whilst also a possible reduction in waste disposal costs. Paying more attention to use of utilities, and where efficiencies could be made, can also provide dual benefit, with reducing water waste and energy usage helping to support sustainability goals whilst lowering monthly bills for homes.
Finally, reducing harmful carbon emissions can also contribute towards the long-term health and wellbeing of both residents and staff, through improving air quality and benefitting respiratory health.
Embracing sustainable business practices in care homes not only secures a healthier future for both residents and the environment, but also shows an unwavering dedication to achieving excellence in care.
Discover more about apetito’s care home service: https://apetito.link/careengland
