About Us
Initially NuGreen was started by Clare and Charlie as a research and development project when working together at Q Medical Technologies Ltd.
Our research quickly highlighted how little medical waste is recycled and the opportunities to create a more sustainable, circular business model within the healthcare industry.
With plastics making up a large majority of the waste we decided to see if plastics could be removed and whether or not we could introduce alternatives such as glass or bioplastics. Our research concluded that this switch would then bring a new set of environmental problems and highlighted the unsung benefits of plastics such as lower CO2 emissions than alternative textiles.
Our focus then shifted to waste management and life cycle responsibility. The thought was 'If we can recover more resources in an efficient way, we will see a reduction in carbon emissions and a more sustainable healthcare industry.'
Our remit includes making waste management processes and material recovery more efficient, but our approach doesn’t end there, we look to investigate all areas of the healthcare sector to introduce more sustainable practices and a circular model.
Our Values
Teamwork
Everything starts with the ‘us’. The work of the team is greater than the sum of its individual parts. By working together, we can continue to grow and change healthcare industry
Integrity
We have a passion for true sustainability, we operate with honesty and good morals. We are committed to teamwork and long-term support of our network.
Discovery
Everyone at NuGreen has a passion to discover and share the truth. We believe in always asking the question ‘why?’
Collaboration
At NuGreen we are about building our network of likeminded people, working with others to achieve something greater.
What we do
We reduce costs for the NHS
We increase the amount of recycled material in the NHS
We reduce emissions for the NHS
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August 2019
NuGreen was created out of a request from Q Medical to look at expanding their distribution portfolio. Clare went to Charlie and pitched the idea of "cleaning up" the mess left behind at the end of medical device from product packaging to end of life electrical devices.
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January 2020
Charlie liked the idea of supporting the NHS and leaving a responsible legacy behind. Discovering the minimal quantity of recycled material and the fact that the health of the planet directly impacts the health of the patient.
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March 2020
We began to research what is currently being done to make the medical device industry more sustainable and what commitments the NHS have made, take a look at the NHS green plan here:
Plastics seemed to be a big topic, managing plastic waste, introducing plastic alternatives etc. however when looking into this further introducing plastic alternatives doesn’t equate to meeting the NHS sustainability goals, the most important one being creating a net zero medical industry. Most plastic alternatives emit higher CO2 emissions during creation and as waste or during the recycling process. The PLASTICS PARADOX gives a great insight into the truth behind plastics and how plastic remains an incredibly versatile resource, perfectly matched to the medical device industry and easy to recycle.
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July 2020
Waste management within the medical industry was also an area that seems to need a lot of improvement. The latest research suggests that more that 60% of the waste generated by the hospital is misclassified as contaminated. Currently contaminated waste streams end up in landfill or are processed as energy for waste. This means 60% of this yield could have been recycled for future use but is ending up unused.
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July 2021
We began studying the circular economy and sustainability through Cambridge university, discovering ways to make all types of industry truly sustainable, and how to introduce a sustainable mindset. This allowed us to internally evaluate our business along with the Pillans Group Business and to understand and highlight our alignment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals as the foundation of a truly sustainable world check out the goals here:
The Ellen MacArthur foundation demonstrates an offering of best in class circular business models. Born out of a true understanding of what it means to have “finite resources” and generate waste that must be managed in a closed environment the Ellen MacArthur foundation continues to support and pave the way for a sustainable world. We are huge supporters of this, here is more information on what a circular economy is:
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September 2021
We have begun the journey to become B Corp certified. We believe that B Corp represent a thorough model to analyse a sustainable business for now and the future, they offer an opportunity for businesses to demonstrate their commitment to protecting the planet for the future and creating long term, sustainable business opportunities for responsible businesses. Highlighting commitment and integrity without compromise. See more about B Corporation certification here:
Charlie Pillans
Charlie is the Chief Executive Officer of the Pillans Group Ltd. The group operates in several industries ranging from Medical Devices to Surgical Implants distribution, through to Organisational Optimisation, and Environmental Projects centred around Medical Manufacturing.
Clare Atkinson
Clare is the Founder and Director of Research & Development at NuGreen. She is passionate about sharing the right information about what it means to be truly sustainable. Outside of the office Clare can usually be found walking the lakes with her family, wild swimming or at CrossFit.
Josh Holland
Josh is our Business Operations Manager at NuGreen. With a passion for improvement and efficiency, Josh is now setting his sights on making a sustainable future for the healthcare sector. An avid outdoorsman and fitness enthusiast he can be found walking in Lake District with his dog or helping others through coaching CrossFit.
Rufus Henderson
Rufus is a Project Manager here at NuGreen. He wants to ensure projects run smoothly and meet their goals, helping people, businesses and healthcare work their way to true sustainability. Outside of work, Rufus spends most of his time walking his dog or canyoning in the Yorkshire Dales.
Charlotte Dawson
Charlie is our Project Assistant at Nu Green. She is passionate about research and dispelling green myths about what it means to operate sustainable initiatives. Charlotte enjoys making the most of the great outdoors on our doorstep, partaking in activities like paddleboarding and kayaking.
Charlotte Richardson
Lottie is currently working as a marketing assistant within NuGreen. She has a strong passion for learning about true sustainability, while developing her skills in marketing in NuGreen. Outside of the office she enjoys spending her time with family and friends or keeping fit at the gym.