The ESA Sustainability Microgrant for 2025 was utilised in three projects.
Firstly, a spreadsheet was developed to support endocrinologists looking to incorporate sustainability initiatives in planning or renovating a practice, or system improvements at any stage of a practice. Following qualitative feedback from clinicians, the spreadsheet was modified. The final version helps prompt ideas, but also leaves space for individuals and groups to personalise it for their needs.
Secondly, we established a relationship with carbon accounting provider, Sumday, together with accounting software provider, Xero, to demonstrate feasibility and utility of carbon accounting in a private practice setting. Our business was the only health provider selected for a short feature video showcasing our initiatives. As with most small businesses, the majority of our emissions were scope 3 emissions (these are emissions outside our control from e.g. suppliers). We also highlighted that much waste in private endocrinology practice is not captured by carbon accounting at all, but rather are related to prescribed investigations, medications and devices. This finding underpins planned studies and initiatives now underway.
Thirdly, we set up a vegetable garden at the practice. This received universally positive feedback from patients, team members, community members and the local council. Anecdotally, gardens encouraged patients towards lifestyle change, whilst also assuring others that their lifestyle efforts are valuable and supported by our clinicians, but sometimes medications are still needed.
With the support of the ESA Sustainability Microgrant, we have developed a toolkit for other practices to incorporate sustainability initiatives to their own work, demonstrated feasibility, utility and challenges in carbon accounting in an endocrine setting, and demonstrated the incorporation of vegetable garden into a clinical space. This work has highlighted the commitment of the ESA towards sustainability initiatives, and provided foundational support for further sustainability initiatives we are undertaking.