Within the CARING NATURE project, the Wellbeing services county of Päijät-Häme, Finland, develop, in partnership with LUT University, a staff engagement model using artistic and participatory methods to encourage the adoption of sustainable practices in the healthcare sector. These methods, tested in workshops with healthcare providers, fostered discussions around resistance to change and ideal models of workplace sustainability.
One concrete example is Heli, a head nurse and one of the first environmental partners, who reorganized waste recycling at her service center. She introduced new waste bins, clarified instructions, and appointed floor-level environmental coordinators to ensure proper recycling and raise awareness among staff. Her work illustrates how individual leadership, supported by management and team collaboration, can lead to practical improvements.
This Finnish model will be tested internationally between 2025 and 2026 in four other healthcare facilities (in Germany, Italy, Spain, and Crete) as part of the CARING NATURE project, which seeks to lower carbon emissions in the healthcare sector. The staff engagement model, known as the ENGAGE solution, will be shared openly through an online methods library managed by LUT University.
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This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation action programme under the grant agreement n°101137340.