Unicare – Carbon Reduction Plan (2026–2035)
1. Introduction & Context
Unicare is a specialist provider of community support and supported living for adults with autism, learning disabilities, mental health needs, and behaviours of concern across Sussex, Surrey, London, Oxfordshire, and surrounding areas.
Unicare recognises the impact the health & social care sector has on the environment and is committed to reducing our carbon emissions while maintaining safe, high-quality care. This Carbon Reduction Plan (CRP) outlines our approach to decarbonising operations and promoting environmentally responsible practice.
2. Carbon Reduction
Current Baseline (2025)
Operational footprint includes: Head Office (Croydon), Sussex outreach hubs, supported living properties, community travel, supply chain (PPE, training), food, waste, and digital systems.Highest emission sources include:
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- Staff travel (community support)
- Procurement (PPE, disposables)
- Utilities in supported accommodation
- Waste & clinical waste
- Food and household supplies
Reduction Targets
Unicare commits to:
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- Net Zero by 2050 (aligned with UK Gov)
- 50% emissions reduction by 2035
- Interim targets by 2030:
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- 30% reduction in staff travel emissions
- 25% reduction in office & housing utilities carbon footprint
- 50% reduction in general waste going to landfill
3. Core Principles
Unicare’s sustainability strategy is based on:
- Clinical safety first
- Realistic adaptation for community support
- Local partnerships & community assets
- Incremental improvement with measurable outcomes
- Co-production with staff, tenants, families, and landlords
4. Strategic Action Areas
A. STAFF TRAVEL & ACTIVE TRAVEL
Staff travel is one of Unicare’s biggest unavoidable carbon contributors due to community support delivery.
Commitments:
-
- Promote cycling, walking, e-bikes, and public transport for staff where suitable
- Introduce Active Travel Guidance for support workers & PBS practitioners
- Trial electric pool bikes and e-scooters in dense service areas (e.g. Brighton)
B. SHARED FACILITIES & COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
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- Switch to EV pool cars where practical for service managers
- Prioritise staff living within 5 miles for outreach packages to reduce travel
- Partner with councils for cycle-to-work schemes
- Provide travel planning maps for new staff
- KPIs: By 2030, 40% of intra-city visits completed via non-car means
-
- Share or co-use spaces with:
- Local charities
- Voluntary organisations
- Colleges / SEND services
- Mental health & autism networks
- Use village halls, libraries, and community centres instead of dedicated buildings for:
- Share or co-use spaces with:
-
- Supervision sessions
- PBS programmes
- Skills workshops
- Staff training (first aid, PBS refreshers etc.)
Benefits:
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- Reduces building energy use
- Strengthens community inclusion for clients
- Reduces estate footprint and duplication
C. ACCESSING & MAKING GREEN SPACES AVAILABLE
Green space supports wellbeing (especially for autism, LD and mental health), while contributing to environmental aims.
Commitments:
-
- Integrate regular green-space-based activities into care plans:
- Seafront walks
- South Downs access
- Local parks
- Guided nature trails
- Work with councils to ensure clients can access:
- Allotments
- Community gardens
- Nature recovery projects
- Supported Living Properties:
- Integrate regular green-space-based activities into care plans:
Commitments:
-
- Integrate regular green-space-based activities into care plans:
- Seafront walks
- South Downs access
- Local parks
- Guided nature trails
- Work with councils to ensure clients can access:
- Integrate regular green-space-based activities into care plans:
-
- Allotments
- Community gardens
- Nature recovery projects
- Supported Living Properties:
- Assess gardens for:
- Sensory planting
- Bird/bee habitats
- Quiet zones for emotional regulation
- Ensure accessible outdoor spaces are available as standard for new placements
- Assess gardens for:
D. IMPROVING LOCAL FOOD GROWING
For autism, LD and life skills development, food growing also builds independence and sensory engagement.
Commitments:
-
- Introduce Growing & Cooking Skills Pathways for tenants:
- Raised beds
- Herb gardens
- Salad & veg growing
- Partner with Brighton & Hove Food Partnership for community access
- Use food growing to:
- Introduce Growing & Cooking Skills Pathways for tenants:
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- Reduce food waste
- Promote nutrition
- Support occupational therapy goals
- Encourage local sourcing for cooking sessions
- Use composting where appropriate (property dependent)
- KPIs:
50% supported living houses engage in food growing programmes by 2030
E. SUPPORT FOR LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS
Unicare will contribute to improving community environments by supporting voluntary & grassroots initiatives.
Commitments:
-
- Provide staff volunteering hours (corporate volunteering)
- Provide financial or in-kind contributions such as:
- Tools
- Gardening materials
- Compost and soil
- PPE for clean-ups
- Shared use of community rooms
- Link environmental volunteering to PBS/LD community participation goals
Examples of suitable partners:
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- Friends of local parks
- Brighton Food Partnership
- Autism nature clubs
- Local wildlife trusts
- Community garden groups
F. WASTE MANAGEMENT (INCL. PPE & CLINICAL WASTE)
PPE and disposables are unavoidable in care, but can be optimised.
Commitments:
-
- PPE Waste Reduction Strategy:
- Transition to reusable PPE where safe (e.g., washable aprons)
- Review supplier packaging
- Bulk purchasing to reduce transport emissions
- Segregation Improvements:
- Clear clinical vs household waste streams
- PPE Waste Reduction Strategy:
Colour coded bin systems in supported living
-
- Birdie logs
- Digital rotas
- Digital HR/staff onboarding
- Introduce recycling points in all properties for:
- Plastics
- Cardboard
- Electronics
- Clothing
- Re-use furniture, equipment, and white goods through:
- Freecycle
- Furniture re-use networks
- Council re-use shops
-
- PPE Waste Reduction Strategy:
- Transition to reusable PPE where safe (e.g., washable aprons)
- Review supplier packaging
- Bulk purchasing to reduce transport emissions
- Segregation Improvements:
- Clear clinical vs household waste streams
- PPE Waste Reduction Strategy:
-
- KPIs by 2030:
- 50% reduction in general waste to landfill
- Zero single-use plastic cups/plates across services
- 100% digital rostering & logs
- KPIs by 2030:
G. PROCUREMENT & SUPPLY CHAIN
Commitments:
-
- Prioritise suppliers with:
- Recyclable packaging
- Low-carbon transport
- Reusable products
- UK-based distribution
- Strengthen procurement with ESG checks
- Use energy-efficient white goods in accommodation
- Prioritise suppliers with:
H. ESTATES, UTILITIES & ENERGY
At supported living properties Unicare controls directly:
Commitments:
- Share or co-use spaces with:
-
- LED lighting upgrades
- Smart heating controls to avoid overheating risks
- Tenant education on:
- Energy usage
- Turning off lights
- Washing at lower temperatures
- Solar feasibility assessments (where permitted by landlords)
-
- With Landlords & Agents (e.g. Caring Meadows):
- Request EPC A–C for new leases
- Encourage insulation and window upgrades
- Explore solar & battery storage opportunities
- With Landlords & Agents (e.g. Caring Meadows):
5. Governance & Reporting
Unicare will establish:
Carbon & Sustainability Lead (internal role)
-
- Data collection
- Annual reporting
- Partnership development
- Staff training
- Annual Review Cycle:
- Measure travel emissions
- Utilities consumption
- Waste volumes
- Supplier ESG performance
- Results to be presented to:
- Senior Leadership Team
- Board/Directors
- Commissioners (on request)
- LA frameworks
6. Education & Staff Engagement
Unicare will deliver:
-
- Sustainability induction content
- Annual refresher training via e-learning
- Skills modules for tenants on:
- Food growing
- Active travel
- Recycling
- Energy saving
7. Relevant Information & Alignment
This plan aligns with:
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- UK Government Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy
- NHS Net Zero Strategy (for shared clients)
- Local Authority climate plans (Sussex / Oxfordshire / Surrey)
- Social value requirements in tenders and frameworks
8. Conclusion
This Carbon Reduction Plan provides a realistic pathway to reduce Unicare’s environmental footprint without compromising care quality, safety, or clinical standards. It embeds sustainability into community care, supported living, tenant development, and staff culture, while strengthening Unicare’s social value offer to commissioners.
Green space supports wellbeing (especially for autism, LD and mental health), while contributing to environmental aims.
