Oakland Care’s ‘Gold-standard’ Sustainability Efforts Recognised at Global Awards

Oakland Care, have been presented with a ‘Gold’ award at the Green World Environment Awards for their standout sustainability efforts.

The prestigious awards were launched in 1994 by international environmental group, Green Organisation, to reward and promote environmental best practices around the globe. They are also supported by the Environment Agency, the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, the Chartered Institution for Wastes Management, and other independent bodies.

For 2024 the carbon neutral care group won ‘Gold’ in the Green World Environmental Award’s health category, in recognition of our commitment to sustainability and environmental practices within social care. The accolade is a level up from 2023, when we were awarded ‘Silver’. Oakland Care’s trophy and certificate were presented at the prestigious awards ceremony in Groupo Ambipar, Nova Odessa, Brazil.

This represents yet another milestone moment for us, the ‘greener choice’ of care homes in the UK, as we continue to push the boundaries of what is possible for care providers’ in the fight against climate change.

Over the last 12 months Oakland Care have continued to drive a range of inclusive and effective green initiatives within their homes, with much of these efforts bringing team members, residents, and their loved ones together. This has included our Green Month in September which saw a four-week marathon of green activity such as litter picking, beach cleans, and tree planting.

Meanwhile, across our care we have driven positive environmental changes. This included transforming a plot of land at Oakland Care’s Maplewood Court care home into a biodiverse, wildlife-friendly space with the help of Kent Wildlife Trust and Low Carbon Kent.

We have also seen Oakland Care certify all our existing care homes using BREEAM, the internationally recognised certification which assesses the building’s specification, design, construction and use for its impact on the environment across 51 criteria. Since this point, we have delivered changes which has seen five of our care homes receive an ‘Excellent’ BREEAM certification, placing us among the top 10% of buildings in the UK.

Reflecting on the global award success, Chief Executive Officer at Oakland Care, Joanne Balmer BEM, said:

“I am delighted that we have been recognised for this prestigious global sustainability title. The award win, which builds on our success from last year, is testament to the hard work of everybody across Oakland Care who are committed to ensuring a greener and healthier future for our communities and the planet.

“As an industry leader in this space, this international recognition helps us in our efforts to inspire others within our sector to push ahead with their own sustainability journey and help contribute to the collective fight against climate change. We can make a real positive difference, and I am looking forward to us continuing to go above and beyond to showcase what is possible for social care.”