RCSLT and the environment

A sustainable health and care system provides quality services without damaging the environment. The RCSLT wants to support speech and language therapists to contribute to greener healthcare – both in their own practice and by being leaders and advocates across the profession.

Why sustainability is important

  • A healthy society depends on a healthy environment – climate change has immediate consequences on our health, disproportionately affecting our most deprived and vulnerable communities.
  • If the global healthcare sector were a country, it would be the fifth-largest contributor to climate change (Healthcare climate footprint report).
  • The NHS generates around 22 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e) each year in England, and around 5% of net UK greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Environmental and financial sustainability are linked – reducing waste can also save your service money.

RCSLT sustainability statement

The RCSLT has published its first ever statement on making speech and language therapy a sustainable profession. The position statement aims to complement existing thinking and resources in sustainable healthcare by providing principles, suggestions and tools specific to the SLT profession.

Read the RCSLT sustainability statement

Resources

Please note: the resources on this page are provided for informational purposes only. No endorsement is expressed or implied, unless otherwise stated.

Guidance and frameworks
Health bodies and regulators
Research and evidence
RCSLT resources
Networks and memberships
Social and green social prescribing

The resources and literature below highlights the efficacy of social and green social prescribing in health domains relevant to Speech and Language Therapy.

Further reading and elearning

A net zero NHS

The NHS is committed to becoming the world’s first net zero health service, with a goal of reaching this target by 2040. As the biggest employer in Europe, and one of the largest in the world, the NHS has a major part to play in the UK’s overarching climate goals.

The pathway to net zero incorporates changes across the service, including reducing emissions within hospitals, transitioning to zero or low-emission vehicles, and using the immense purchasing power of the NHS to influence change throughout the supply chain.

Greener AHPs

Allied health professionals (AHPs) are the third largest clinical workforce in the NHS, so they play an important role in reducing the impact of the NHS on the environment.

The Greener AHP hub, which the RCSLT helped to develop, aims to make it easier for AHPs to educate themselves on environmental sustainability and contribute to a more sustainable NHS.

Key areas for change, such as equipment, models of care and food, are all within AHPS’ scope of practice – meaning everyone has an opportunity to influence change.

What’s more, many AHPs focus on interventions which reduce people’s need to access healthcare services, which in turn helps to reduce carbon emissions. You may already be having a more positive impact than you realise.

Ready to make a change? Find out how you can make a positive impact towards net zero. Many of these tips apply whether you work for the NHS or not.

Reducing our impact

For the first time, our commitment to environmental sustainability has been included in our Strategic Vision. Read more about our vision for 2022-2027.

As well as supporting our members to reduce their environmental impact in their practice, we’re working to minimise the RCSLT’s footprint. Read about the changes we’ve made to Bulletin, our magazine for members.

Carbon reduction priorities

In July 2025 speech and language therapists took part in UK-wide research conducted by NHS England to identify carbon reduction priorities for the each of the allied health professions. These are the priorities which were identified for the SLT profession during the research:

  • Increase awareness in the profession of the carbon impact of our work and our role in working more sustainably. Training and upskilling speech and language therapists regarding the carbon impact of different interventions and lower-carbon alternatives, taking into account the long-term benefits of interventions.
  • Ensure every contact with patients includes the principle of right care, right place, right time, to achieve the best service user outcomes in the context of sustainability. This might include:
    • One stop appointments with multiple professionals to reduce patient hospital and clinic visits.
    • Use of virtual clinics and telephone follow-up where appropriate.
    • Ensuring that all investigations have a clear evidence-based clinical benefit to inform further management without unnecessary use of carbon intensive tests.

This collaboration with other professionals will ensure timely and appropriate interventions and avoid unnecessary and unwanted interventions.

  • Reduce the carbon impact of our offices. It’s important not to forget the basics – the small stuff matters. Turning off equipment when not in use; following a waste policy for recycling; taking lunch time food waste home for doorstep recycling.
  • Review resources to reduce the use of unnecessary paper and disposable or single use items.
    • Examples include: disposable bottles to feed babies; dysphagia supplies; kidney bowls; cups and spoons; nasenodscopy items; messy play materials such as foam; mouth care products; and PPE in line with IPC guidance.
    • Using digital versions of assessments rather than paper.
    • Embracing ‘gloves off’ campaigns to reduce unnecessary PPE use.
    • Reduce laminating and printing where possible and use recycled paper where printing is unavoidable.
  • Prioritise prevention where possible, for example early identification of dysphagia risk factors with support to reduce later adverse health impacts. Use our position to advocate for and support patients to reduce health impacts, especially those who are less able to access resources themselves. Have more discussions around adaptation (not just mitigation) and what this could mean for SLTs in the future.

Further reading