First Studies Funded Under Initiative to Decarbonise Health and Social Care
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence( NIHR) has announced the first studies to be chosen as part of a multi-year funding opportunity which aims to help the health and social care system decarbonise, reduce waste, improve efficiency and deliver better value for patients and the public.
5 studies have been selected for funding. The studies will help to identify vital knowledge and evidence, enabling the system to reduce costs and support sustainable health and care systems through innovation.
NIHR has invested £5 million in the 5 studies, underlining its role in driving economic growth, improving productivity and delivering high‑quality care more efficiently.
Creative solutions
In late 2024, the NIHR launched a major £25 million funding opportunity to boost the sustainability and efficiency of the UK’s health and social care sectors. The cross-programme initiative aims to attract and fund research that urgently addresses knowledge gaps. Running annually for 5 years, it forms part of the NIHR’s work to build a more future-ready health and care system. It aims to identify innovative and creative solutions to support decarbonisation, reduce waste, improve efficient use of resources and support long-term resilience across the health and social care system.
The 5 studies awarded funding during the first year are:
- Childbirth, choice and climate change – led by Lancaster University, the project will develop national guidelines and create a ‘how-to’ guide for hospitals to reduce supply leaks and clinical waste. In December 2025 alone, the emissions from gas and air in the NHS in England were equivalent to 12,622 tonnes of carbon dioxide. By investigating supply leaks and clinical waste, the team plans to work together with those involved in maternity services to reduce waste from gas and air without compromising access to effective pain relief.
- Including carbon emissions in cost-effectiveness assessment to reduce the carbon impact of medicines – led by the University of Sheffield, this project will explore how the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence can incorporate environmental impact into its evaluation of new medicines. The project aims to create a framework that encourages pharmaceutical companies to reduce waste and boost value for money.
- PharmaBag: A Sustainable Packaging System to Reduce Pharmaceutical Waste – led by The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust, the PharmaBag project is developing eco-friendly medicine bags to ensure unopened, high-cost treatments like cancer drugs remain safe for reuse. It aims to cut avoidable waste, prevent medicine shortages and improve the management of medicines.
- Assessing the Impact of Virtual Wards on Decarbonising Acute Care: A Mixed Methods Evaluation – led by Lancaster University, this project aims to evaluate the benefits of virtual wards which use digital technology to treat acute conditions at home. It will design sustainable care pathways that improve productivity, reduce pressure on hospitals and make better use of available resources without compromising patient recovery.
- Social-Decarbon: Identifying and modelling more efficient social care services – led by London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, this study aims to improve energy efficiency in the UK’s adult social care sector. It will identify care models that shift support from hospitals to homes and communities, helping managers to test the cost and impact of different care options.
Reducing environmental impact
Dr Sophia Lentzos, NIHR Head of Climate, Health and Sustainability, said: “To see the first studies we’ve funded as part of this initiative getting underway marks a hugely important milestone. Our 5-year programme will fund the research and innovation needed to deliver resource-efficient, equitable healthcare that improves the health and wellbeing of patients.
“Reducing the environmental impacts of the health and social care system, through cutting waste and using resources wisely, is not only one of our top priorities, it represents a significant opportunity as the NIHR reaches its 20th year. Through targeted investment we can improve services and support long-term economic growth. We are determined to play a key role in building the evidence, partnerships and momentum needed to go further in the years ahead.”
