1. Commitment
ExcelCare Agency recognises that the health of the people we support depends on the health of the environment around them. We are committed to reducing our environmental impact, meeting our legal obligations and contributing to the wider ambition of a net zero health and care system.
This policy sets out how we manage that commitment in the practical realities of domiciliary care: a dispersed workforce, many small journeys, and care delivered in other people's homes.
2. Our legal and regulatory obligations
- Environmental Protection Act 1990 — duty of care for waste
- Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011 — the waste hierarchy
- Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005 — clinical and infectious waste
- Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2013
- COSHH Regulations 2002 — safe use and disposal of chemicals
- Climate Change Act 2008 — the national net zero target
3. Energy and water
- Office energy use is metered and read monthly, with the consumption recorded on the environmental dashboard.
- Lighting is LED; equipment is switched off at the end of the day rather than left on standby.
- Heating is set to a maximum of 21°C in occupied areas, and the office is draught-proofed.
- The agency purchases electricity on a renewable tariff and reviews the tariff annually.
- Water use is monitored, and leaks are reported and repaired promptly.
4. Travel and mileage
Travel is our largest source of emissions, because carers move between homes throughout the day.
- Rotas are planned by geography so that each carer works within a defined patch.
- The rostering system flags unnecessary journeys between distant visits.
- Staff are encouraged to walk, cycle or use public transport where the round allows, and we provide a cycle-to-work scheme.
- Electric and hybrid vehicles are preferred for any pool or leased vehicle, and charging is available at the office.
- Lift-sharing is arranged for training and meetings, and meetings default to video where the purpose allows.
5. Waste and single-use plastics
- We apply the waste hierarchy: prevent, reuse, recycle, recover, dispose.
- Single-use gloves and aprons are clinical necessities and are used only where infection control requires them; we avoid unnecessary double-gloving.
- Single-use plastic cups, cutlery, plates and bottles are not purchased for the office.
- Paper use is minimised through digital care records and digital-first communication; where printing is needed, it is double-sided and on recycled stock.
- Ink cartridges, batteries, IT equipment and mobile phones are recycled through a licensed contractor, with a waste transfer note retained.
- Clinical waste in people's homes is managed under our Infection Prevention & Control Policy and the local authority's arrangements.
6. Procurement
- Suppliers are asked about environmental credentials, packaging and take-back schemes before appointment and annually thereafter.
- We prefer concentrated cleaning products, refillable containers and products with recognised environmental certification.
- Local suppliers are preferred where quality and value are equal, reducing delivery miles.
- Uniforms and equipment are repaired before replacement, and surplus equipment is offered to other providers before disposal.
7. Digital sustainability
- Data storage is consolidated with suppliers who publish renewable energy commitments for their data centres.
- Devices are kept in use for their full working life and securely wiped and recycled at end of life.
- We avoid unnecessary storage of duplicate files and large attachments.
8. People and culture
Every member of staff completes environmental awareness as part of induction, covering waste segregation, energy saving and travel choices. Staff are invited to suggest environmental improvements through team meetings, and the Sustainability Lead coordinates an annual improvement plan with named actions and owners.
9. Measurement and reporting
We record, at minimum:
- electricity and gas consumption and cost
- water consumption
- business and commuting mileage
- weight and type of waste, and recycling rate
- the proportion of suppliers who have provided environmental information
Performance is reported to the Board annually and published alongside our Carbon Reduction Plan. Targets are reviewed each year with the aim of year-on-year reduction against our baseline.
10. Review
This policy is reviewed annually by the Sustainability Lead and approved by the Board, and updated whenever legislation or our operations change.