Community Health Partnerships (CHP) published its Green Plan 2026–2029 Driving a Sustainable Future setting out a clear, practical roadmap to support the NHS ambition of reaching net zero carbon, while continuing to deliver safe, high-quality, modern, community healthcare buildings across England.
Building on progress made over recent years, the new plan reinforces CHP’s role as a long-term strategic partner to health systems, combining sustainable estates management, responsible procurement, and strong supplier collaboration to reduce environmental impact while maintaining robust operational performance.
A partnership-led approach to sustainability
Central to the Green Plan is CHP’s focus on working collaboratively with contractors and suppliers to accelerate change across our community health care estate. With more than three hundred community health sites, CHP’s approach recognises that supply chain action is key to achieving meaningful carbon reductions.
This approach is already delivering measurable results through CHP’s cleaning services contract with Mitie, demonstrating how sustainability activities are embedded into everyday operational services at scale.
Since the start of the cleaning contract with Mitie FM Ltd, delivered through their Cleaning and Hygiene Division, on 1 August 2024, we have been working closely with them to identify ways we can reduce the environmental impact of cleaning products and processes.
Across the 251 CHP sites Mitie provide cleaning services, we have achieved:
- 1,288kg use of recycled containers and equipment, avoiding ‘virgin’ products. Use of recycled mop buckets, wringers and floor pads using recycled fibres. Also, by using manufacturers who use recycled plastic for their product containers.
- 2,781,181 litres of water saved through innovative cleaning and soap products and systems. Mainly SC Johnson Professional foam soap/sanitiser technology in the Cutan and Deb ranges.
- 1,523kg reduction in CO2e through recycling initiatives. LOOPBOX recycling solution – empty cleaning containers are collected, cleaned, and refilled before being redistributed, which uses existing supply chain networks, saving virgin plastic use, transport costs, and energy costs.
- 205,430 kgs of CO2e saved annually through 100% use of electric vehicles by mobile cleaners, rapid response cleaners, and managers.
CHP and Mitie’s focus for 2026 and beyond includes:
- Identify potential to create further carbon savings through use of cloths, hygiene papers, recycled dispensers and other innovative cleaning products.
- Review options for compostable cleaning products and consumables.
- Scale up the use of OdorBac and Cleanline Eco products.
- Boost the use of LOOPBOX process.
- Trial of a mopping system where many of the mop fittings can be kept and reused rather than fixed to the mop and disposed of, saving on plastic production and disposal.
- Continuous review of site order consolidation practices to minimise trips from the suppliers to the sites.
Delivering practical sustainability action across CHP’s estate
The CHP Green Plan 2026–2029 brings together action across CHP’s core areas of influence, including:
- Estates and facilities management, reducing emissions from building operations, energy use and maintenance activities.
- Responsible procurement, embedding sustainability requirements into contracts and supplier relationships.
- Waste and water reduction, driven through smarter systems and material reuse.
- Sustainable travel, including the transition to electric vehicles within service delivery models.
- Data and governance, ensuring progress is measurable, transparent, and aligned with NHS reporting requirements.
By focusing on practical interventions that can be scaled up consistently across sites, CHP aims to support Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) teams and CHP tenants to meet local and national NHS environmental targets, while ensuring LIFT community health buildings remain resilient, efficient, and fit for the future.
Our Green Plan 2026–2029 reflects CHP’s commitment to taking practical, measurable action that supports the wider Greener NHS net zero ambition. Working closely with our tenants, partners, and suppliers, we are reviewing cleaning products and processes to identify alternatives that improve resource efficiency and reduce environmental impacts whilst achieving value for money. We are delivering real environmental benefits across our estate while maintaining the high standards our patients and communities expect. Sustainability is not an add on to how we operate, it is key to how we design, manage, and future-proof community healthcare facilities.
Next steps for sustainable delivery
Over the next three years, CHP will continue to build on strong foundations, using insights from existing programmes and partnerships to embed sustainability into everyday decision-making. The organisation will also continue to share learning with stakeholders and system partners, supporting wider improvement and collaboration across the NHS estate.
The Green Plan 2026–2029 reaffirms CHP’s commitment to playing its part in tackling climate change, while ensuring community healthcare facilities continue to support healthy communities, today and in the future.
Together, we can create a greener, healthier future for our communities
Download: Green Plan 2026–2029 Driving a Sustainable Future (PDF)
CHP tenants: If you have any queries about the Green Plan, please contact the CHP Sustainability team.
Sustainability at CHP
As part of the NHS family, CHP supports the NHS ambition to deliver the world’s first net-zero health system. Sustainable Facilities are one of our five strategic aims and sustainability is one of our four corporate social responsibility pillars. Aligning with the NHS target of achieving Net Zero Carbon by 2040, the team at CHP are committed to achieve Net Zero Carbon for the LIFT estate by 2040 and 2030 for our corporate functions.
