Oral nutritional supplement (Fortisips) bottles recycling

Project completed as part of the 2025 Hampshire Hospitals Green Team Competition. 

Oral nutritional supplement (Fortisips) bottles recycling. 

Team Members

• Caz Francis (Dietitian) – Project lead and green team coordinator
• Rachael Wright (Lead Nurse for Patient Support Services) – Communication officer, bottle management
• Carla Jacobs (Matron, Victoria Ward) – Ward manager
• Claire Shergold (Matron, Shawford Ward) – Ward manager
• Matron (Overton Ward) – Ward manager
• Helen Murphy (Facilities Compliance and Waste Lead) – Waste and recycling logistics

Issue: Fortisip and Fortijuce bottles used for oral nutritional supplements at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust were largely disposed of in domestic or clinical waste streams, despite being fully recyclable. Baseline survey showed 58% bottles were disposed in domestic waste and 13% in clinical waste, with only 29% recycled. Barriers included lack of bins, time constraints, and low awareness.

Intervention: The team selected three high-use wards for a 30-day pilot. They installed dedicated recycling bins and created awareness posters. Weekly collection, rinsing, and counting of bottles was undertaken by project team.

Outcomes

Environmental: Estimated annual carbon saving: 45.01 kg CO₂e (≈132 miles driven).

Economic: Small cost saving: £8.70/year from diverting waste from clinical/domestic streams to recycling.

Social: of 84 staff surveyed; 92% wanted more recycling points, the project Increased awareness and engagement with sustainability initiatives.

Key Learning

The project highlighted the importance of strong staff engagement and clear communication in driving sustainability initiatives. While enthusiasm was high, practical challenges such as time for rinsing and collecting bottles and reliance on one person for these tasks means future success will depend on embedding responsibilities into ward workflows and maintaining awareness through ongoing promotion and training.