Care2Change was awarded the Sustainable Collaboration prize at the closing event of the ‘Duurzame 30’ on 27 October in the Grote Kerk in Leeuwarden. This is a wonderful recognition for the hospitals, research institutions and businesses in the northern region that have joined forces to achieve circular and climate-neutral healthcare.
From the many excellent initiatives, the jury ultimately chose Care2Change because it was impressed by the large scale of the collaboration in the Northern Netherlands. “Healthcare is a vast sector – and for that reason alone a very important one – where even a small step towards sustainability, less waste or reduced environmental damage has a major impact,” according to the jury report.
Care2Change began in the operating theatre. As a medical student, Femke van der Zant saw just how much material is discarded during an operation. Together with oncological surgeon Schelto Kruijff and research agency Ecoras, she launched the first exploratory steps towards waste-free healthcare. This grew into the current consortium.
“This award is for everyone involved,” says Van der Zant, project leader at Care2Change and a doctor at the Martini Hospital: “At the start, many of the parties didn’t even know each other. Now hospitals, researchers, entrepreneurs and public authorities are sitting down together to solve problems. The fact that this collaboration is now being recognised in this way gives us a huge boost.”
As category winner, Care2Change receives a €50,000 media budget. The consortium will use the funds to raise awareness of the environmental impact of healthcare and to bring the project closer to patients.
The ‘Duurzame 30’ is the annual awards scheme honouring sustainability leaders from Drenthe, Friesland and Groningen. It is an initiative of Dagblad van het Noorden, the Leeuwarder Courant and the Friesch Dagblad.
LIFE Cooperative is proud to be a consortium partner in this project. Congratulations to the Care2Change team on winning this award!
