Sustainability Pledge: Reduce your Carbon Footprint

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board’s Sustainability Team is challenging colleagues to act for the future and sign up to a Sustainability Pledge with monthly commitments to make small changes for the good of the planet in 2024.

It sets out one new behaviour you can take up each month such as using reusable cups, avoiding mowing your lawn to allow plants to flower, finding more sustainable routes of travel and going on a low-carbon diet.

Calum Shaw, Environmental Sustainability Improvement Manager, said: “These pledges are aimed at helping you in your day-to-day life, to reduce your impact on the planet and realise some carbon, health and financial benefits. You could also bring these behaviours into the workplace.

“While the calendar contains one action per month, you can choose to do these in a different order or all in one go to make the greatest impact.”

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board colleagues can officially sign up to the pledges, click here.

JANUARY: BECOME CLIMATE AWARE

During January (or month one if you start later) start your journey by learning more about climate change. Cardiff and Vale University Health Board colleagues can sign up and complete climate awareness training. You can do this by searching for “Achieving Net Zero in Wales” in ESR.

FEBRUARY: SWITCH IT OFF

In February get into the habit of switching off an additional monitor in the office and items which are idling to save energy. Did you know that leaving your monitor and computer idling overnight costs over £330 per year!

MARCH: LET'S RECYCLE

In March make a conscious effort to reduce the amount of products you use, reusing anything you can and recycle as many items as possible both at home and in work.

Recycling data for Plastic | My Recycling Wales

Did you know? - Wales is the 3rd best recycling nation in the WORLD!!

APRIL: REUSABLE CUPS

In April make an effort to reduce your waste impact by bringing in a reusable water bottle or coffee cup... you can also save 25p per coffee at Aroma outlets. In Cardiff and Vale University Health Board we use over 770,000 single use coffee cups per year.

NO MOW MAY!

For the whole month of May don’t mow your lawn! Changing your mowing routine and allowing plants to flower can create enough nectar for ten times more bees and other pollinators. You’re also more likely to spot a greater variety of flowers popping up in your garden.”

JUNE: SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL

Why not travel via more sustainable or low carbon modes of transport for June? You could share a lift with a colleague, use public transport or commute by walking, running or cycling.

JULY: ZERO WASTE PURCHASES

Make a more conscious effort to try and limit your plastic waste in July. See the guide below to zero waste shops which can help you.

A Guide to Cardiff's Zero Waste Shops | HungryCityHippy

AUGUST: SPEND TIME IN NATURE

Spend one hour a week walking in nature. August is the perfect time to host a walking meeting or catch up with colleagues in the sunshine? Spending time in green space or bringing nature into your everyday life can benefit both your mental and physical wellbeing.

SEPTEMBER: LOW CARBON DIET

Commit to at least one day a week being meat free and where possible eat local and seasonal produce.

Here are some tasty recipes you could try -

Guide to seasonal fruit and veg
Sustainable Diets – Nutrition Skills for Life®

OCTOBER: GO PAPERLESS

For the whole month of October do not print any papers or documentation, which are not required.

NOVEMBER: VIRTUAL MEETINGS

Aim to hold as many meetings as possible virtually,without commuting, during November. This will reduce both your transport emissions and your impact on Air Quality!

DECEMBER: IMPACTFUL EMAIL

One email emits 10g of CO2. During the month we will take more consideration of the carbon impact of emails, reducing those which are unnecessary. It has been estimated global emails account for 150,000,000 tonnes CO2e, or about 0.3% of the world’s carbon footprint. This makes average email usage the equivalent to driving a small petrol car for around 128 miles.