Case study: Training our staff in Carbon Literacy

In this blog piece, our Social Value Training Manager, Sarah Corbo, reflects on our ambitious programme to upskill the NHS LPP workforce through Carbon Literacy training.

The Sustainability and Social Value team at NHS LPP provides expertise and support to reduce carbon emissions, encourage value-for-money, and increase the social value of NHS and public sector procurements. We wanted to establish the organisation as a trusted partner for carbon reduction initiatives, alongside our award-winning social value support. Sustainability was sometimes considered part of the remit of one team, rather than part of our organisational culture, and Carbon Literacy seemed a perfect way to address this.

Sustainability Manager Simon Rowland was our first colleague to be trained in Carbon Literacy in September 2022, followed by myself in August 2023. Conor Moore joined as an upskilled facilitator in June 2025.

The first two deliveries marked Carbon Literacy Action Day 2024. Further sessions were run to accommodate staff interest from January to July 2025. I gained my Carbon Literacy Facilitator status in March 2025, around the time that NHS LPP Executives granted approval for the organisation to seek Silver Carbon Literate Organisation status and work towards Gold.

The course was delivered online, using the eLearning route and with delivery tailored to highlight examples of relevant and local initiatives with member trusts, or within London. There were great conversations about the topics raised in the training, and notable increase in engagement with carbon reduction initiatives. As facilitators, we worked hard to ensure pledged actions met criteria, as what felt significant to delegates was, on occasion, below threshold. Colleagues often benefitted from 1:1 support to generate ideas for personal actions based on their role or ways of working.

The staff-wide events resulting from the training have boosted morale and engagement. Small habitual actions like turning off monitors have improved, and the increase in general awareness and discussion is noticeable. A Meat Free Monday campaign resulting from a group action saw 10% of staff participate, saving an estimated 166kg CO2e[1]. A staff-wide clothes swap saw approximately 90kg of clothing diverted from landfill, saving an estimated 2,250kg CO2e[2]. This has also inspired further interest in our staff sustainability group, Greener LPP, with sessions including sustainable use of AI gaining significant interest.

Our organisational values are Caring, Ambitious and Inclusive – Carbon Literacy supports all of these by demonstrating our active concern for the current and future health of NHS systems and patients, our drive to support improvements and our recognition of the inequalities global warming creates. We are committed to the NHS net zero targets, and to supporting our members and suppliers to achieve them – and I’m proud to have played a part.

 

[1] Scope 3 GHG Measurement and Reporting Protocols for Food and Drink | WRAP - The Waste and Resources Action Programme

[2] What is the carbon cost of clothing? | Ethical Consumer