Sustainable operations make an impact at Anglicare Southern Queensland

A $1.8 million investment into solar panel installations will see Anglicare Southern Queensland take a significant step towards reducing its carbon footprint by 40%.

The initiative is part of its Sustainability Roadmap 2023-2030. Sue Cooke, Chief Executive Officer, told Hello Leaders they are focused on doing their part to ensure environmental sustainability occurs across all areas of the organisation.

“Anglicare Southern Queensland is part of the Anglican Diocese of Brisbane and together we are doing our part to ensure we remain environmentally sustainable across all areas of the organisation,” she said.

“We believe it is our collective responsibility to protect and to preserve a healthy environment for the communities we serve, and we will continue to take positive steps towards environmental sustainability and to deliver high quality services for our community and for future generations

“Our strategy aims to reduce our carbon footprint by 40%, reduce waste consumption by 30%, transition 50% of our fleet vehicles to Hybrid, ensure ethical and sustainable resources and upskill through sustainable training.”

Overall, the $1.8 million spent will result in solar panels being installed at six residential aged care homes by the end of 2025. Panels have recently been installed at Anglicare Meilene Residential Aged Care Home in Bundaberg. 

Ms Cooke said the solar panels will reduce carbon emissions per year at all residential aged care homes by around 1,931 tonnes, with an average payback of just over six years. 

“The transition to solar power is an important step in Anglicare’s sustainability strategy and our commitment to reduce our organization’s carbon footprint by 40%. Meilene in Bundaberg has just had a 185KW system installed this week, with another five of our homes to transition to solar power by the end of next year,” she added. 

As highlighted by Ms Cooke, Anglicare Southern Queensland has also implemented a waste management policy which has reduced waste consumption by one-third. A transition to eco-friendly products, instead of single use plastic items, in hospitality areas is another modern switch. 

Over 5,170 kilograms of e-waste has also been recycled while 600 kilograms of personal protective equipment (PPE) was donated to Griffith University, instead of being dumped into landfill. 

Another innovative partnership with Thread Together, a not-for-profit that collects and donates new clothing, resulted in 17,500 items of clothing also escaping landfill in 2023.

Meanwhile, the transition to a hybrid fleet is another key component to achieving their carbon footprint reduction goals.

“Anglicare Southern Queensland is making huge progress in ensuring all targets are being made by the end of 2025 and so far, 333 of our 650 vehicles are now Hybrid,” Ms Cooke added. 

“This will reduce approximately 94 tonnes of carbon emissions per year (6% of total fleet). In 2022 fuel efficiency increased from 7.04L per 100KM to 6.34L per 100KM in 2023.”

The first fully electric vehicle is also being trialled, with Ms Cooke eager to embrace electric vehicles. However, she said that will have to wait until elements such as charging stations are installed to assist staff using those vehicles. 

“The transition to a more sustainable mode of transportation would be the most crucial element of our sustainability roadmap. However, the infrastructure needed for this transition to be 100% successful is not there yet,” she added.