The private healthcare industry has been warned that it must avoid greenwashing as it becomes more aware of carbon reduction targets and the need to become more environmentally responsible.
Law firm Hill Dickinson noted that it was “very easy” to make unsubstantiated claims but these could land firms in legal hot water.
It also highlighted that healthcare was believed to be responsible for around 5% of carbon emission in most countries and so the industry need to understand the extent to which it was part of the problem.
Speaking at the Laing Buisson Private Healthcare Summit yesterday, Hill Dickinson partner Jamie Foster noted the industry was waking up to the issue.
“It’s taken a while but it does now seem that net zero in healthcare is becoming very relevant,” he said.
“It’s interesting that for smaller hospitals, clinics and providers, they are starting to understand this is an issue.
“The key message is, this is a here and now issue. This is not a vague commitment that can be pushed down the line and considered at in the future, this is something you need to be looking at now.”
And with more businesses realising they need to take action, Foster warned them not to get caught up in greenwashing.
“The CMA guidance that came out around greenwashing is something companies really do need to be careful of,” he said.
“It is very easy to make claims around what you’re doing for net zero that are not substantive and increasingly that is going to get companies into trouble.”
He added: “It is really important to avoid greenwashing. Make sure that you’re not just saying things and putting them on the website but backing them up.”