The Royal College of Podiatry, working in partnership with NHS England, recently held a Sustainability Workshop to identify the most important actions we can take together to reduce our environmental impact.
Members who took part in the workshop were asked to rank a series of potential initiatives. The results have now been grouped into Top, Medium, and Lower priorities, reflecting areas where there was clear consensus and where opinions were either more varied or the action was harder to implement.
Top Priorities
- Optimising the use of recycling bins and waste segregation
- Turning off devices/lights when not in use and considering LEDs where possible
- Increasing preventative interventions to reduce the need for extensive treatments (e.g. ulcer prevention)
Medium Priorities
- Reducing repeat and inappropriate prescriptions
- Reducing single-use instruments and packaging (e.g. plastic aprons, reusable stock boxes)
- Better regulation of ordering to avoid surplus and waste
- Using QR codes for health promotion alongside leaflets
Lower Priorities
- Returning equipment like frames and sticks for recycling
- Rationalising face-to-face meetings that require travel
- Using telephone triage and virtual appointments to reduce mileage and wasted appointments
Although the workshop was co-led with NHS England, these priorities are relevant for podiatrists wherever they work — in the NHS, private practice, education, or research. By focusing on the top priorities first, we can all make practical changes that contribute to a more sustainable future for podiatry and healthcare as a whole.
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