Sustainability at PDSE
Sustainability is one of PDSE’s seven core organisational values. We are alert to our own environmental impacts and as an organisation and are engaging with our moral obligation, as all healthcare organisations have, to rapidly improve the Environmental Sustainability of services – both in respect to the patients, staff and society of today, but of future generations as well.
Our Greenhouse Gas Emissions
PDSE has been building understanding of its greenhouse gas emissions over the last three financial years. In October 2024 we reported on our Scope 1 to 3 emissions, in alignment with all 17 categories of the GHG Protocol for the first time, less for ‘investments’. You can read more about how PDSE is engaging with its GHG emissions, and other
environmental impacts, in our annual ‘Environmental Report’
Read our Environmental Report here
Our Focus and Aspirations
PDSE is currently developing an environmental management system in accordance with the requirements of BSI’s ISO14001 standard – the world’s most recognised standard for environmental management systems.
As part of this work we have identified our most significant environmental aspects and impacts, established an Environmental Policy and nine overarching Environmental Objectives, which map back to our aspects and impacts as well as developing and setting in play an Environmental Action Plan (EAP) – our comprehensive plan for delivering on our objectives.
Progress on our environmental objectives is reported each year in our annual Environmental Report.
What We've Been Up To Over The Last Few Months
Decontamination
Having transitioned our centralised decontamination facilities at our Devonport site from gas to electric we have been analysing the energy consumption of our autoclaves to help refine their operating approach – the refined operating approach adopted in 2024 will save around 20,000 kWh electricity per year.
LED retrofit
Since summer 2023 the Facilities Team have changed over 400 light fittings from fluorescent to LED at our Devonport and Derriford sites – the more efficient lights will realise an annual energy saving of around 38,000 kWh per year.
Electric Pool Vehicle
To help engage with the emissions associated with travel we have procured a battery electric pool van. The van arrived in September 2024 and the vehicle is anticipated to save around 1.8 tonnes CO2e per year. Now in use most days either by the Dental Outreach, Facilities, or IT team.
EV Charging
In reflection of the high proportion of site users who access our sites by car in August we installed EV charging at our two directly operated car parks (Exeter and Derriford). The affordable to use chargers will help facilitate the transition to electric mobility for patients, staff and other site users and reduce emissions associated to travelling to our facilities.
Plant Optimisation
We are fortunate to have two 50kWp ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) at our Derriford site which deliver a share of the building’s heating demands and the majority of its cooling demands. To further the value of the GSHPs (and reduce the role of the accompanying gas boilers at the site) we are investing in improved sub-metering and BMS controls to be able to maximise the value of the existing GSHP system (and in time, help optimise the removal of the gas boilers from the site entirely).
Sustainable Procurement
We have worked to consolidate our orders wherever possible (and thus reduce vehicle movements to our sites). We have also been working with our suppliers to improve a view of ‘elephants in the room’ with our consumables consumption. After gloves (which we use over 3 tonnes of per year!) our second most significant clinical consumable (by mass) is clinical disinfectant wipes – which we use over half a million of per year. We researched alternatives to the plastic based wipes we were using previously and came across several options made from bamboo derived plant fibres. We ordered a small amount of each to test them out and identify the best option, with the top performing product being rolled out to all sites in early 2025.
Waste Services
We went out to tender for a new waste services provider in the summer of 2024 with the aspiration to deliver a more efficient, demand driven service and see waste sent to more local facilities for processing. The new contract is set to go live at the start of November and will also see offensive waste and food collections being introduced.
Community
In alignment with our interest in the communities we serve we held three community litter pick events for staff, friends and family near each of our sites in June 2024. In all 20 sacks of rubbish were collected – we are saving the sacks for a repeat event next year.
Biodiversity
In respect of the very worrying collapse in flying insect populations and building on PDSE’s previous engagement with the ‘No Mow May’ movement, we decided to set aside areas for ‘No Mow May’, ‘Let it Bloom June’ and ‘Knee High July’ this year, in areas where we are able to.
PV Generation
We are working to install PV generation at each of our directly operated sites in the next two years. The solar installation at Devonport has now been completed and the system is currently in operation. The solar panels are designed to produce 66.6kw of electricity, annually generating 67,650kwh. Currently we use around 309,656kwh annually so reducing our energy consumption by 21% per annum. Saving 13.08tons co2 per annum. Derriford survey completed and Exeter to follow.
Awards and Recognition
- Finalist for the Sustainability Award at the C2S Awards 2025.
- Shortlisted for the Sustainable Business Award at The Dentistry Awards 2024.
- Achieved a Silver award at the Green Impact Dentistry Awards 2023. Read more on this achievement here.
Keen to work with us?
We recognise the transition to a Sustainable society is one which is built upon cross-organisational and cross-disciplinary sharing of knowledge and ideas. If you feel there is something you may be able to help us with in relation to our Sustainability aspirations, or feel we may be able to help you with in relation to your Sustainability aspirations based on experience we have gained in our journey so far – please reach out.
