Navigating sustainability in healthcare & pharmacy
The EMT approach to ESG
Becoming a sustainable business can feel like navigating a maze, a world filled with complex governance frameworks, evolving sustainable regulations, unfamiliar jargon, and a growing list of metrics and reporting requirements.
At EMT Healthcare, we’ve experienced this journey firsthand. Our Managing Director, Rod Muir, has led the development of our sustainability and ESG strategy for more than a decade, and here we share the story of how our journey unfolded.
How Our ESG & Sustainability Journey Began
Our path toward ESG and long‑term sustainability wasn’t linear. We had our own internal ambition to become a more sustainable healthcare supplier of pharmacy dispensing consumables, but we were also guided by the needs of our customers, including Superdrug and Bunzl, who faced growing pressure to provide accurate sustainability and EPR‑related reporting data.
We are fortunate to have a passionate team, many of whom were keen to see more action and accountability around sustainability for pharmacy and the wider healthcare sector.
Then came Covid‑19, which had a significant impact both on global supply chains and on our people. Before the pandemic, we had been trialling a wide range of recycled materials across our dispensing consumables. However, as material prices surged, sourcing virgin materials became cheaper, temporarily limiting our ability to offer our pharmacy customers sustainable dispensing consumables at the right cost.
At the same time, the rising cost‑of‑living crisis placed additional strain on our team, as it did for many families across the UK. As a family‑run business, supporting our people mattered deeply, so we introduced cost‑of‑living bonuses to help our team navigate the challenging period.
Cutting Through the Jargon: Getting Support from the Experts
Understanding our carbon emissions became our first major milestone. Collaborating with Nottingham Trent University helped us cut through the complex language around carbon reporting and provided clarity on our own footprint.
Their audit gave us a clear starting point. Like many businesses taking their first steps toward sustainability, we began with small but meaningful changes; switching to LED lighting, installing sensor systems in the warehouse, upgrading our heating systems, insulating pipework to reduce energy waste, increasing recycling, and reusing packaging materials wherever possible.
These actions reduced our energy use (and our bills), but we knew we needed to go further.
Doubling Down on Sustainability and ESG
Regulations continue to evolve rapidly, especially those affecting sustainability for pharmacy, healthcare suppliers, and organisations impacted by changes such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). As a small but growing business, we needed clarity and practical guidance.
That’s when we began working with ESG Experts. Their support helped us break down the jargon, understand upcoming sustainable regulations, and identify the next stage of our ESG maturity. They built on the actions we had already taken and helped us level up our approach.
We also engaged the entire EMT Healthcare team. Staff across the business were interviewed to understand where we could make meaningful impact, and those insights became the foundation of our sustainability strategy, updated policies, and our newly defined EMT North Star.
Advice for Others Starting Their Sustainability Journey
Based on our experience, here are a few recommendations for any small or medium‑sized business beginning or developing their ESG strategy:
1. Start with a carbon audit
A carbon emissions report provides clear, data‑driven insights and typically delivers quick wins in reducing energy consumption.
2. Review your internal practices
Look at what you can change today: lighting, heating, recycling processes, material choices, staff engagement, and procurement of dispensing consumables or other resources.
3. Explore local funding opportunities
Local grants and regional support schemes can provide financial assistance for sustainability improvements or energy‑efficient upgrades.
4. Work with the right consultant
A good ESG consultant should take time to understand your business model, supply chain, and operational realities. With the right support, you can build your own tailored ESG framework that delivers value across your entire supply chain.
What Is ESG and Why Does It Matter?
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) expectations continue to grow across UK industries. While an ESG policy is not yet mandatory for all businesses, many larger organisations must report climate‑related risks, energy usage, and sustainability data, and this requirement is increasingly influencing expectations of suppliers.
At EMT Healthcare, we have long championed sustainable practices, including sourcing recycled materials for our pharmacy dispensing consumables and healthcare products. But with the pace of change accelerating, from EPR to new carbon reporting expectations, we have taken proactive steps to stay ahead of sustainable regulations.
By working closely with ESG Experts and defining our EMT North Star, we are building a clear, transparent, and future‑ready strategy that helps both us and our customers navigate the ever‑changing sustainability landscape.
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