Five Dorset NHS Trusts are joining forces in an eco programme which aims to achieve net zero.

In a first of its kind, the ‘Ecoearn’ programme will roll out to over 24,000 NHS staff across the county, aiming to encourage energy saving, sustainable travel, health and wellbeing and waste reduction.

The programme is provided by Jump, the market leaders in sustainability engagement, and will be accessed through a bespoke website and app created uniquely for the Dorset NHS Partners. Launched this month, the programme will play an integral role in Dorset healthcare’s sustainability strategy for 2020-2025 and the wider NHS plan to reach net zero by 2045.

The collaboration, which includes University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust, Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust, NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group and the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, allows the Trusts to measure and track their carbon footprint and waste reductions over time which will help them achieve their goal of going net zero.

Colleagues from across all five NHS Trusts gave their suggestions for the name of the new programme, with Ecoearn put forward by nurse clinician, Helen Price, from SWAST. Staff signed up to the platform will be able to take part in activities such as car sharing, switching off electricals, following a low carbon diet, and bringing a reusable cup to avoid single-use plastic. The programme allows users to compete in Trust specific teams and earn ‘Green Points’ for their positive actions, with the top performing individuals winning vouchers to spend at local and sustainable shops around Dorset.

Stuart Lane, sustainability and carbon manager at University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are pleased to have launched the first collaborative sustainability programme of its kind, which will assist us all as a group of Dorset healthcare organisations to move cohesively towards our goal of net zero. The Ecoearn programme is already causing a buzz amongst UHD staff and we’re excited to start competing for Green Points.”