A sustainable approach to care homes

TO HELP achieve the government’s target for net zero emissions by 2050, growing pressures are being placed upon businesses to reduce their carbon footprint. And care homes are no exception. An NHS report identified that the residential care sector accounts for at least 3.2million tonnes of CO2 each year and £1.1billion in natural resource costs. With sustainability a key focus for all industries, what steps can care homes take to become more environmentally conscious and sustainable? 

The laundry room is a good place to start. Without the right equipment and processes in place, care home laundries can use an unnecessary amount of energy, water and detergent, resulting in unsustainable practices and excessive overhead costs. Whilst laundry might not be your first thought when considering ways to become ‘greener’, it should not be overlooked in your care home’s sustainability strategy. Here are four aspects of laundry to be mindful of: 

1. Keep laundry in-house

Rather than outsourcing laundry to external agencies, which can increase carbon emissions through washing operations and transport costs, consider bringing laundry in-house. This offers more control over washing cycles by enabling users to set programmes that minimise the amounts of energy and water used.  It can also reduce outsourcing costs, amounting to significant savings in the long term. 

2. Consider load ratios

Care homes should consider how much laundry they process and what this amounts to in real terms to establish what load capacity they require in a washing machine – e.g., what does 8kg or 10kg of laundry actually look like? This will ensure that only the necessary amount of energy and water is consumed. However, it’s important not to overload the machine as this could be counterproductive as items won’t be washed effectively and might need to be washed again. 

3. Choose sustainable equipment

Due to their lower purchase cost, domestic machines are sometimes chosen as a solution but can be more expensive to operate in the long term. However, domestic machines are not built to withstand heavy loads and frequent use, they often require more maintenance and have a shorter lifespan. Commercial machines are a more sustainable solution as they are designed to be durable and reliable for frequent use. They provide added value to a care home environment as they can reach the high temperatures required to kill harmful bacteria and prevent the spread of infection. 

Choosing a brand that’s been tested to last a long time will reduce the number of times it will need to be replaced, preventing unnecessary landfill. Selecting a supplier with a good service record will also mean that your care home can maintain the quality of equipment helping to prolong service life further. For example, Miele Professional products provide a quality guarantee and deliver excellent performance helping businesses to save money and become more sustainable in the long term.

4. Use the correct programmes

Commercial washers and dryers offer a range of programmes and settings to not only process fabrics hygienically and gently but also sustainably too. Bespoke programmes should be available to wash items at optimum temperatures depending on the type of laundry being processed and how soiled it is. Without making full use of the different modes, it’s likely that some items will be washed incorrectly using excessive amounts of energy and water. Staff should take the time to understand, or receive training on, when and how to use different programmes and settings.

Making more sustainable choices in your laundry is beneficial for the environment and for the operational efficiency of your care home.

Charles Robards is business development manager at the professional division of Miele.

For more information visit https://www.miele.co.uk/p/