At a Glance:
- A practical toolkit for United Kingdom (UK) National Health Service (NHS) Trusts to support dietetic students in completing sustainability-focused projects on placement.
- Encourages UK NHS Trusts to embed sustainability in routine audit, service evaluation, and/or health promotion activities.
- Provides key information, time-saving templates, case studies, and signposting to other resources.
- Aims to increase staff and student awareness of sustainability issues and to develop confidence to tackle them.
- Lessons Learnt: The toolkit is about to be piloted in practice, so learning is yet to happen.
Background
Sustainability is increasingly recognised as a critical component of healthcare, and dietitians have a unique role in its promotion. Whilst they are perfectly placed to support individuals with small changes to increase the sustainability of their diets, they can also be key agents for change at an organisational level.
With the UK NHS committed to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2040, system-wide changes in practice, culture, and education are undoubtedly required. Despite this, sustainability is not consistently embedded in dietetic education or clinical placements, and many students complete their education with limited exposure to the sustainability agenda.
Key barriers identified by dietetic educators and UK NHS Trust placement providers include a lack of time and a lack of confidence to guide students in sustainability-related projects. While enthusiasm exists, placement supervisors often struggle to identify projects that are achievable within placement structures that additionally align with professional competencies.
The Toolkit Idea
To address this gap, a toolkit is being developed to support UK NHS Trusts in setting sustainability-themed projects for dietetic students during placements. The aim is to make sustainability an integrated and achievable aspect of training, without placing additional burden on supervisors.
The toolkit will include:
- Key information – about the importance of sustainability for nutrition/healthcare professionals.
- A “Quick Start” guide – for ease of use.
- Student project templates – adaptable briefs for audits, quality improvement projects, and health promotion activities.
- Case studies – to provide inspiration by showcasing other student projects.
- Signposting and resources – for further information if required.
Once the student has completed their sustainability project, they present and discuss their findings with their department to promote learning at an organisational level. The toolkit will encourage students to make practical recommendations to the Trust, aiming to increase the sustainability of their service and move the organisation closer to the UK NHS’ net zero ambitions.
Implementation
The Greener Projects Toolkit is being finalised through consultation with academic educators, based on the current available evidence and experience regarding barriers to embedding sustainability into dietetic education. The literature suggests that whilst sustainability is seen as important, time and confidence are substantial barriers to its integration. The toolkit is therefore being designed with ease-of-use as a priority to allow for easy and swift implementation by users.
Once complete, the toolkit will be piloted with UK NHS Trusts providing dietetic placements for students at the University of Plymouth. Further improvements and developments will be made based on staff and student feedback.
Food for Thought
- How could sustainability be more consistently integrated into professional training and practice?
- What role can students play in leading organisational change?
- How might small placement projects contribute to larger organisational net zero ambitions?
Contact Information
- Dr Clare Pettinger, Associate Professor, Public Health Dietetics, University of Plymouth, UK
- clare.pettinger@plymouth.ac.uk
Questions? Ideas? Feedback? Contact: ICDAsfs.coordinator@acadiau.ca
The ICDA SFS Toolkit is made to be used & shared freely.
Please cite the authors of the resources you use, and the ICDA SFS Toolkit if you are able:
InternationalDietetics.org/Sustainability
Created 2025 October