Green Deal Sustainable Care

The health and welfare sectors help to mitigate the physical, mental and social consequences of climate change and a polluted environment. At the same time, they themselves contribute to these problems. We want to break this vicious circle with the Green Deal Sustainable Care. We do this by taking concrete steps together to accelerate sustainability within these sectors. In doing so, we call on every actor within care and welfare to look at what steps they can take, themselves or in collaboration with others. In this way, these actors can strengthen the prominent role they already have within society and also act as inspiring ambassadors for sustainable change.

Investing in preventive wellness and health care means addressing climate issues as well. Sustainability and healthcare are inextricably linked, especially since climate change poses an enormous health risk. Worldwide - and also in our own country - there are already many victims, think of over mortality due to heat waves, increasing infectious diseases and the strong rise of climate anxiety/depression. The need is therefore high to shift up a gear within the health and welfare sector as well, and to transform our own negative impact into a positive story.

The Green Deal Sustainable Care aims to stimulate necessary cooperation, as well as facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experience. It is an appeal to everyone within the broad sector - from reception mother to hospital - to commit to carrying out concrete, sustainable actions adapted to their own possibilities. The sum of these actions, both small and large, can collectively create a positive signal and the necessary sustainable acceleration.

A Green Deal involves a voluntary, ambitious agreement between (private) partners and the Flemish government to start a sustainable project together. The inclusion of a commitment is voluntary and implies an effort commitment, not a result commitment. The parties commit to do what is within their power to realize the project.

Already 12 Green Deals have been launched. The 13th, the Green Deal Sustainable Care, will start at the Kick-off moment on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 (morning). This Green Deal (and associated commitments) will last for 3 years.

The Green Deal Sustainable Care is structured around four themes:

Creating a natural environment around care and welfare organizations has a beneficial effect on the well-being of both staff and users. Moreover, well-thought-out adaptations of the immediate environment, such as maximum softening but also the application of nature- and ecosystem-based solutions (e.g. wadis and native plantings) ensure future-proof sites (for adaptations to the buildings themselves, see Theme 2). Finally, in addition to qualitatively greening the site, nature-inclusive care also promotes the connection and use of nature as a health-promoting element. Integrating nature into care is a key tool for this.

For additional explanation and/or inspiration regarding this theme, see the recording of the inspiration room 'nature & health' of the Symposium 'Towards the Green Deal Sustainable Care' on Nov. 18, 2022.

The climate crisis requires targeted choices that make the infrastructure and daily operations of the sector climate proof(er). This can be done by striving for carbon neutrality, including through reduced energy consumption and a transition to renewable energy sources. But also by paying attention to the principles of circular construction and rethinking the spatial development of facilities. Furthermore, making mobility and food more sustainable is an important focus within this theme. In addition to avoiding further climate change (mitigation), it is important to adapt care to the change that is already happening (adaptation). Together with interventions in the outdoor environment (see theme 1), adjustments to the infrastructure itself can make sites more resilient to heat, flooding and drought, among other things.

For additional explanation and/or inspiration regarding this theme, see the following recording of the inspiration room 'climate & infrastructure' of the Symposium 'Towards the Green Deal Sustainable Care' on Nov. 18, 2022.

The daily operation of the health and welfare sector involves a large use of materials. A large proportion of these materials cannot be reused and thus end up as waste. In addition to basic steps within waste prevention, the sector can move toward more circular purchases. Circular purchases involve focusing on fewer materials, more recycled content, longer product life and ensuring reuse and recycling. Actions are possible in areas such as food, medical consumer goods, furnishings and furniture, company clothing, ICT and electronics, white goods, facility products, diapers and building materials.

For additional explanation and/or inspiration regarding this theme, see the following recording of the inspiration room 'materials & waste' of the Symposium 'Towards the Green Deal Sustainable Care' on Nov. 18, 2022.

Drugs play an important role in the treatment of diseases. After use, these drugs enter our wastewater through urine and feces. Since wastewater treatment plants are not designed to remove all possible drugs, various drug residues end up in our waterways. This poses a risk to the environment, potential reuse of this water or even our drinking water. Due to the aging population and the increasing number of diseases of affluence, among other things, it is expected that more drugs will be released into the environment. Moreover, climate change may further increase their impact on the environment: in times of drought, concentrations of active substances in waterways will be higher and heavy rain and flooding may lead to further spread. A chain-wide approach is necessary here. This ranges from development/production, prescription and use to waste and treatment.

For additional explanation and/or inspiration regarding this theme, see the following recording of the 'medicines in water' inspiration room of the Symposium 'Towards the Green Deal Sustainable Care' on Nov. 18, 2022.

Aftermovie Symposium 'Towards the Green Deal Sustainable Care' (18/11/2022)

Interested in participating? Super!
You sign up to the Green Deal Sustainable Care using the engagement form. In it you state which actions (see inspiration text) you or your organization would like to commit to during the Green Deal period. From two actions we have a deal!

Enter all administrative data on the online subscription module, where you can then upload the completed and signed commitment form.

Registration for the Kick-off (via subscription module) is open until March 8, 2023.
After this Kick-off, it is still possible to sign on as a participating party during the first year of the Green Deal.

Do you have a question about this Green Deal or a suggestion? Please feel free to contact us, we will be happy to help you.

Or would you like to be in the cockpit of this Green Deal in addition to implementing actions? Give us a call, and we'll explain further what such participation in governance entails.

Sofie Desmet - Department of WVG
E-mail: [email protected]