Sustainable Kidney Care project
Kidney care is one of the most resource-intensive specialities in healthcare, making it a key focus for achieving sustainability goals. Recognising this, the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare is leading a pioneering two-phase initiative to reduce the carbon footprint of kidney care while delivering cost savings, conserving water, and continuing to deliver high quality care to patients. Phase one took place in 2025, and phase two will take place in 2026.
Phase One: Implementing best practice
Phase one was delivered in partnership with the UK Kidney Association, and Health Innovation North-East and North Cumbria, with support from the Greener NHS. This phase aimed to provide a benchmarking framework for sustainable kidney care best practice, and disseminate it throughout the UK’s kidney networks through our kidney centre champions. This framework is used to track and measure progress, whilst also encouraging implementation of more sustainable kidney care.
The long term goal of this project was to embed sustainable practices throughout the kidney care pathway, demonstrating how speciality care can contribute to the Greener NHS’s net zero goals by reducing resource intensity and fostering a culture of sustainable practice, while delivering the best outcomes for our patients.
The opportunity
Drawing from analysis of case studies created in 2009-12 through CSH’s Green Nephrology programme, CSH estimated that scaling 20 proven green innovations across UK kidney centres could achieve annual savings of:
- £7 million in costs,
- 11,000 tonnes of CO2e, and
- 470 million litres of water
To unlock this potential, a comprehensive benchmarking framework was needed to track progress, encourage implementation, and provide the necessary tools and guidance for sustainable kidney care.
Phase one objectives
- Benchmarking Framework:
Develop a robust system to track and measure progress across kidney centres. Reporting was based on a set of 10-15 evidence-based interventions for sustainable care, enabling centres to easily record progress in implementing changes. - Data Sharing Mechanism:
Establish a system for collecting and sharing data from kidney centres, with pilot data from 60 centres helping to shape the benchmarking framework. This work was undertaken in collaboration with the UK Renal Registry and the UK Kidney Association. - Engagement and Leadership:
Foster sustainability leadership in kidney care by training 60 active “Kidney Centre Sustainability Champions” across England’s 250 kidney centres (48 main adult centres, 9 paediatric centres and approximately 200 satellite centres) and establish a Community of Practice to enable peer learning across the regional renal networks. Champions received training, engaged in an online network, and led local implementation projects. - Modelling Impact:
Model the carbon, cost, and water savings achievable through these interventions. Provide data-driven targets for reducing CO2e emissions by 200, 500, or 1,000 tonnes over two years. - Sharing Learnings:
Publish a summary report of insights and best practices for implementing sustainability initiatives within a clinical speciality.
Phase one outputs
Benchmarking framework
Developed by the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare in collaboration with the UK Kidney Association, this tool supports kidney care teams in tracking their progress towards more environmentally sustainable practices. By taking part, renal units can assess and improve their environmental performance while continuing to deliver high-quality care. This national initiative encourages shared learning and collaboration to help reduce carbon emissions and support the NHS in reaching its net zero ambitions.
Kidney Centre Sustainability Champions
CSH worked with regional network managers to build on the UKKA-CSH Kidney Centre Sustainability Champions scheme, and recruit 60 Sustainable Kidney Champions throughout the UK by July 2025.
The existing Kidney Unit Sustainability Champion Scheme (set up by UKKA and CSH in 2023) was designed to promote leadership and foster innovation in sustainable practices within renal care. The scheme appointed Sustainability Champions in renal units across the UK, who serve as advocates for embedding environmentally sustainable practices in clinical operations.
This large scale recruitment campaign expanded on this to create 60 dedicated roles with extended responsibilities and clear guidance, resources and specialist training provided by CSH.
By becoming a Kidney Centre Sustainability Champion, healthcare professionals can lead quality improvement initiatives and gain opportunities for skill development, networking, and collaboration with patients and multidisciplinary teams to co-create sustainable solutions. Use the champions map to establish whether your unit already had a champion and connect with them to learn about your unit’s progress. If not, why not register to become a champion to lead sustainable change in your workplace?
Sustainable Kidney Care Toolkit
The Sustainable Kidney Care Toolkit supports kidney centres across the UK in implementing sustainable care. It contains case studies and practical how-to guides for 13 sustainable changes, mapped to the benchmarking tool areas.
Carbon Modelling Report
Carbon modelling was used to demonstrate the potential impact of the sustainability interventions trialled on greenhouse gas emissions and water use.
The report describes the carbon footprinting methodology used, assumptions underpinning the modelling, and results.
Phase two: Embedding best practice
Delivered in partnership with UKKA and supported by Medice and Fresenius, phase two will respond to the urgent need for continued development and capacity-building.
Phase two objectives
- Kidney Champion scheme expansion: The Kidney Champion scheme will be developed and expanded, reaching and supporting more centres across the UK to implement sustainable change
- Benchmarking tool development: In response to pilot data, the benchmarking tool will be further developed
- Carbon modelling report updates: The carbon modelling report will be updated to account for new data
- How-to-guides development: The series of how-to-guides written in phase one will be piloted, reviewed, and updated.
If you have any questions or need more information, please contact Dr Frances Mortimer, CSH’s Medical Director.