Project description
Tackling post COVID-19 challenges for healthcare’s green transition
The healthcare sector is responsible for 4-5 % of global greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, yearly emissions of the sector are projected to dramatically increase by 2050 if measures are not taken. However, implementing green measures swiftly and cost-effectively and maintaining optimal care delivery processes remains a challenge. The EU-funded CARING NATURE project aims to facilitate this shift. Involving healthcare providers, SMEs, industries and universities, the project pioneers 10 innovative solutions to curb carbon emissions and pollution. They will be demonstrated across 33 use cases targeting key production aspects under healthcare providers’ control. From AI-powered energy management to waste valorisation and telemedicine, CARING NATURE will tackle diverse challenges. It will also foster governance capability and staff engagement through participatory methods.
Objective
Green transition is the behavioral intention of health and care providers (HCPs) even in presence of growing healthcare request after COVID-19. However, it requires operational tools to be carried out rapidly with optimal processes and low service costs. CARING NATURE’s (CN) 5 HCP, 5 innovation SMEs, 1 SDO, 2 industries and 5 Universities will construct and implement 10 healthcare specific solutions for carbon emissions and pollution (CEP) reduction demonstrated in 33 use cases.
The 10 CEP-reduction solutions tackle main production sources on which HCP have exclusive control and were they act as principal actors of transition: building energy demand will be addressed through: reduction of environmental impact of construction and renovation, and utilizing AI-powered energy management; reduction and valorization of medical, food and water waste through a HCP tailored pyrolysis plant prototype and an on-site waste food digestion and drying system; reduction of patient/visitors travel through next generation telemedicine. Sustainability transitions require transversal staff and Governance commitment: Staff engagement through participatory methods for Communities of Practice will be explored and systematized. Governance capability of HCPs, policy makers and investors urgently needs an operative framework since to evaluate interventions no simple measuring system of HCP environmental impact exists. CN framework consists of a decision support system based on information sharing, HCP specific social life cycle assessment and life cycle cost and sustainable finance evaluation models together with a reporting model compliant with EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). Governance bodies and other stakeholders will benefit from an HCP specific eco-friendly approach to reengineering of processes for enforcing sustainability based on the Green Lean Six Sigma methodology. Opportunities for standardization will be identified and reported.
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HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation ActionsCoordinator
20123 Milano
Italy
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Participants (18)
3036 Lemesos
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53850 Lappeenranta
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4 Dublin
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12244 Aigaleo
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1160 Bruxelles / Brussel
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1017AV AMSTERDAM
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3118 LIMASSOL
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
70122 Bari
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92130 Issy Les Moulineaux
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
16129 Genova
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013685 Bucuresti
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
10787 Berlin
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00168 Roma
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08402 Granollers
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69120 Heidelberg
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15850 LAHTI
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71500 Heraklion
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3062 PA Rotterdam
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