Building a more sustainable future at Beritaz Care

At Beritaz Care, we are always looking for ways to improve our homes and services, not only to better support our residents but also to have a positive impact on future generations. We are committed to making changes wherever we can to embrace a more sustainable and eco-conscious approach to care. 
 
We have introduced various green initiatives within our homes that allow us to make more environmentally conscious choices while still prioritising the health, safety, and dignity of our residents. These small changes in our daily operations will add up to a significant environmental impact for Beritaz over time. Our staff members have embraced these changes with positivity and are happy to know they are doing their part to improve the home’s carbon footprint. 
 
Across our homes, we have been reducing waste by upgrading everyday items to reusable options where possible and also encouraging our staff to move away from single-use items in their personal habits. Every Beritaz Care team member has been equipped with a branded reusable water bottle that they can use at work every day. This not only encourages staff to take care of their wellbeing and pay attention to their hydration throughout the day, but also significantly reduces our reliance on single-use plastic cups within our homes. 
 
We have also been able to make some sustainable swaps in areas of resident care, allowing us to reduce our environmental impact without negatively affecting resident care. In many of our homes, disposable plastic cups and spoons used for medication are being replaced by reusable options that offer an eco-friendly alternative. This small change encourages sustainable practices without impacting efficiency or hygiene.  
 
Some of our homes have also made the switch to using fabric aprons during mealtimes rather than disposable plastic ones. As well as offering a more sustainable option for daily use in the homes, these new aprons look smart, professional, and are loved by our staff members. 
 
In addition to our sustainable swaps, we have also been introducing initiatives that encourage more eco-friendly thinking in the homes. As we take steps to reduce unnecessary energy consumption by switching to power-saving light bulbs and upgrading appliances to more energy-efficient ones, we have also been encouraging our staff to think about energy use as they go about their days at the home. We have had a really positive reaction from staff members, happily adjusting their habits to switch off lights and turn off appliances when not in use.

To support the already thriving gardens and outdoor spaces, some of our homes have introduced an intelligent composting system. Using food waste bins to collect vegetable peels, coffee grounds, and other food waste generated in the kitchen, they then efficiently compost these materials to be reused in the garden. This puts essential nutrients back into the earth, enhancing soil fertility and supporting sustainable gardening practices.
 
We have also been able to switch to a mostly paperless system both within our homes and business support centre. With the introduction of our new Care Vision digital care management system, it has been easy to adopt a fully digital care record system, which not only reduces paper waste but also improves efficiency and security. Our staff have found the switch seamless and convenient, only further supporting the quality care they are providing to residents. 
 
With sustainability and environmental impact in mind, we have been active in making eco-conscious choices when it comes to construction and building improvements within our homes. We are currently carrying out refurbishments at Ashton Manor Nursing Home, which will see a new and improved dining and lounge area built for our residents to enjoy. This new area will replace our previous conservatory to create an all-weather-use communal space. This has been designed to improve heat conservation and greatly reduce the excess energy usage compared to the previous conservatory-style building.
 
The construction of our new purpose-built nursing home at the Robertson Nursing Home site has enabled us to create a modern, future-ready building, designed with sustainability in mind. The new home will be equipped with environmentally responsible features such as solar panels, air-source heat pumps, and EV charging facilities to reduce our carbon footprint and contribute to a more sustainable future for the local community.
 
While many of these changes have been small, we hope that together they will make a difference. Our staff and residents have been pleased to know they are doing their bit to decrease our carbon footprint and make a positive impact on the sustainability of the homes. Having the support of the entire Beritaz Care community has been so important in introducing and maintaining these green initiatives, and we are always looking for new ways we can introduce more sustainable practices within our homes.