Hywel Dda University Health Board scooped a Nursing Times Award in 2023 for its cost savings and waste reduction through sustainable procurement. 

The Health Board’s outstanding sustainability achievements includes savings of £620,000 by reusing furniture and other commodities instead of buying new since joining Warp It in 2018.

Reuse has also helped the Health Board avoid 142,335 kg of waste and save 434, 380kg of carbon, the equivalent of planting 594 trees and removing 188 cars from the roads.

Stuart Jones, a psychiatric nurse, has been responsible for managing the Warp It system since the beginning. He said:

“We are delighted to win this award. As a large public sector body, we are committed to embedding sustainability at the core of our operations. Reuse is integral to meeting our goals to minimise waste and reaching net zero in line with Welsh Government targets.”

The figures represent a significant increase since 2021 when The Health Board reported savings of £230,000 by avoiding new purchases using Warp It.

Above: the Health Board has avoided 142,335 kg of waste.

The ongoing success is chiefly thanks to Stuart securing engagement from senior management and encouraging staff to use the system. Around 10 percent of its 14,000-strong workforce currently use the reuse system.

Stuart said:

“Action is critical when it comes to making change and Warp It makes this easy. We use it every day and it has become the first port of call for staff to list unwanted items or search for what is available across the organisation before they buy new. The range of items reused is really broad and varies from desks, filing cabinets, poly-pockets, and whiteboards to maternity beds, walking frames, kettles, and wrist supports.

“We get great value from resources by finding new owners for these items that would otherwise stay in storage for years or be sent to landfill.”

Above: The Health Board is reusing furniture and other commodities instead of buying new.

The Health Board has also extended the scheme to several charities, schools, churches, and other non-profit organisations by donating items no longer wanted internally. 

Stuart concluded:

“We knew it made sense to extend the reuse scheme to worthy causes, especially when items no longer fit-for-purpose in their current locations could be put to good use elsewhere. Sharing resources this way is a superb solution for everyone involved, while supporting a circular economy as the need to purchase new stock and send items for disposal are reduced.

“Warp It is cost-effective, easy to use, and we are delighted with the results so far. It shows how we can extend the life cycle of items while benefiting The Health Board and other organisations so we can all become greener together.”

Read our guide to reuse.

Start reusing today and register with Warp It.