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This blog piece has been written to share some of the basics around ESG, such as what it means and how it can impact the healthcare industry.
Hands up if you’ve heard of ESG before…*tumbleweed*. Okay this won’t actually work as we can’t see you but let’s assume there are no hands up. This blog piece has been written to share some of the basics around ESG, such as what it means and how it can impact the healthcare industry.
Before we begin, we’d like to clarify that the information shared in this article is written to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We’re here to be your friendly healthcare furniture provider and are not (quite) experts in the field of sustainability.
Right, now that’s done, let’s begin!
First of all, let’s clear up what ESG stands for. ESG is short for Environmental, Social and Governance. It is a set of standards measuring a business’s impact on society, the environment, and how transparent and accountable it is.
ESG has been a hot topic across many industries now, but how does it impact the healthcare industry? From energy efficiencies and waste management right through to operational savings, there are many things to consider and monitor when it comes to sustainability.
Within the environmental part of ESG, there are many factors to consider, including waste management, pollution, climate change, sustainable operations and more.
Typically, it’s unusual to link healthcare furniture with topics like pollution, but this is where your supplier comes into it. The manufacturers and suppliers of your healthcare furniture are crucial to helping you and your organisation understand the environmental impact furniture has.
From how it was produced right through to how it can be reused or recycled. In our Wood vs Metal blog debate, we explore how metal is a better choice environmentally compared to wood when it comes to chair frames (sorry, spoiler). The understanding of how each item began its journey and where it ends it should be applied to every item of furniture in a healthcare setting. Don’t worry, you’re not expected to know it all – there’s no quiz!
When it comes to the social impact of ESG, popular topics for organisations are ‘equality’ and ‘wellbeing’ amongst patients, staff and visitors alike. In this section, it’s a little easier to understand how furniture in a healthcare setting can affect these two topics.
Equality within a healthcare environment is so important. There are certain furniture items that can help promote equality – for example bariatric seating in the same design, style and space as standard seating is one way to improve equality for users.
In recent years, staff wellbeing is becoming as increasingly as important as patient welfare. With 5.5% of all NHS staff signing off sick in January 2024, it’s becoming more apparent that wellbeing spaces are needed more than ever. Comfortable, stylish and reliable furniture can be key to making sure staff are using dedicated breakout rooms effectively. This in turn makes a mark on the social impact of ESG.
Finally, let’s delve into the Governance Impact of ESG. If your first thought is ‘what does Governance actually mean?!’, you’re not alone. According to dictionary.com, Governance is ‘a method or system of government or management’. So, when this is applied to ESG, it essentially covers the leadership, compliance, and diversity topics.
It is important for healthcare organisations to provide transparent decision-making, ethical leadership and accountability when it comes to leadership and compliance. It doesn’t just apply to those within the building of healthcare environments though. It extends to all suppliers of the organisation. Yep, you guessed it, this also includes furniture providers.
It’s also important to consider board diversity within senior leadership as they bring a range of perspectives that can enhance decision making, and better reflect the population of patients served.
So, there you have it, a quick overview of what ESG is and how it impacts certain areas of the healthcare industry. You can discover more about our ESG goals here.
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