CARING NATURE took part in Sustainable Healthcare Week 2026, organised by the Nordic Center for Sustainable Healthcare (NCSH) in Malmö, Sweden, bringing together healthcare professionals, policymakers, researchers and multi-sectoral industry representatives committed to accelerating the transition towards more sustainable and resilient healthcare systems.

With more than 500 participants from over 25 countries across the week, the event provided an important platform for exchanging practical approaches, experiences and solutions to turn sustainability ambitions into concrete action.

From Evidence to Action: a joint Horizon Europe side event

On 30 September, CARING NATURE joined its sister Horizon Europe projects KitNewCare and NetZeroAICT to co-organise the hybrid side event:

“From Evidence to Action: Advancing Sustainable Healthcare through Measurement, Digital Innovation and Implementation.”

The event, that gathered 45 participants onsite and online, highlighted the complementary approaches of the three projects to improving the sustainability of the healthcare sector:

  • KitNewCare – measurement and benchmarking;
  • NetZeroAICT – digital innovation and AI-enabled transformation of clinical pathways;
  • CARING NATURE – operational change through practical hospital-level solutions.

CARING NATURE was represented by Project Manager Pasquale Mari (Fondazione Policlinico Gemelli) and project partners Helinä Melkas (4D Arcgitects Amsterdam), David Korn (Fondazione Policlinico Gemelli) and Ioannis Vyrides (Cyprus University of Technology), who contributed to the discussions by presenting solutions addressing areas such as staff engagement, telemedicine, food-waste treatment and energy optimisation.

The session also created an opportunity for cross-project exchange on common implementation challenges, enabling conditions and transferable lessons for moving sustainable healthcare solutions from evidence to practice.

Presenting the Green and Circular Compass Dashboard

On 1 October, CARING NATURE also contributed to the 8th Nordic Conference on Sustainable Healthcare’s main event.

During the session “Mitigating & Adapting – Structural decarbonization across infrastructure, energy systems and logistics,” Elma Durmisevic presented the Green and Circular Compass Dashboard to an audience of around 80 participants.

Developed within CARING NATURE, the Dashboard supports the design and development of healthier, greener and more resource-efficient healthcare infrastructures, integrating considerations related to circularity, energy performance, well-being and sustainable building design.

Its presentation contributed to wider discussions on climate-resilient healthcare facilities, energy systems, emergency preparedness and supply-chain continuity.

Through its participation in both the side event and the main conference, CARING NATURE contributed to the wider European dialogue on how innovative solutions can support the transition towards more sustainable, resilient and resource-efficient healthcare systems.