Sustainable care, prevention and welfare
The climate crisis is one of the great threats to public health. At the same time, the care sector itself has a considerable impact on the climate. In The Netherlands, the care sector is responsible for approximately 7% of national CO₂ emissions, partly through energy consumption, transport, and the disposal of medical materials and medication.
Based on its core activities and role within the care sector, ZonMw aims to contribute to a future-proof care system and good health for everyone. Accessible and future-proof care goes hand in hand with health, quality of care and sustainability. Making care more sustainable not only benefits the environment, but can also contribute to healthier living conditions, smarter use of resources and more affordable care.
How does ZonMw define sustainable care?
By sustainable care, prevention and welfare, we mean the organisation and delivery of care, prevention and support with the lowest possible impact on the climate, the environment and the living environment, within applicable laws and regulations.
This means paying attention to:
- Reducing greenhouse gas emissions
- Responsible use of raw materials and resources
- Circular solutions and reuse
- Limiting waste and unnecessary consumption
- Creating a healthy living environment for current and future generations
Sustainability aligns with the principles of value-based health care and appropriate care. In value-based health care, the patient or client and the value that care provides for them are the most important. Alongside proven effectiveness, care interventions should make efficient use of people, resources and materials. Ecological sustainability is an integral part of this approach.
Sustainability across ZonMw programmes
Sustainability is embedded across the breadth of ZonMw. It is a key theme within several ZonMw programmes, including:
- Appropriate Care Framework Programme (only in Dutch): In 2026, 9 projects started through the Research Methodology for Appropriate Care – Ecological Sustainability funding round (only in Dutch). These projects focus on developing methodologies to assess the ecological sustainability of existing care practices.
- Proper Use of Medicines (only in Dutch): Sustainability is reflected in several funding opportunities, including the Open Call.
- Citrien Fund Programme 2024-2028 (only in Dutch): Initiatives include Working Differently Works Better and Greening Healthcare Together.
- Effective Use of Medical Devices in Home Care (only in Dutch): Within this programme, Bertil Blok, urologist at Erasmus MC, received the Sustainable Care Professional Award for the COMPaRE [project (only in Dutch).
- Care for Innovation(only in Dutch): Including implementation and scale-up coaching rounds.
- Climate and Health 2: Encouraging research into the effects of climate change on health.
- Open Competition: Recently funded the REFINE study which investigates whether treatment with antibiotics can be an appropriate alternative to appendectomy. By avoiding unnecessary surgery, care can be organised in a smarter and more sustainable way.
What does ZonMw do?
ZonMw contributes to sustainable care, prevention and welfare in various ways.
1. Stimulating knowledge development
We fund and support research and innovation aimed at making care, prevention and welfare more sustainable. We stimulate knowledge development in areas such as:
- The relationship between climate, environment and health
- Sustainable organisation of care
- Circular use of materials and medical devices
- Reducing waste and unnecessary consumption
- Methodology development for measuring environmental impact
Have a look at all the ZonMw projects that focus on sustainability
2. Stimulating sustainable research practices
Across all ZonMw programmes, achieving impact is key. We have identified several factors that are essential for impact, known as the Evident Conditions. Sustainability is one of these Evident Conditions and is embedded in our 2025-2029 strategic plan (only in Dutch).
This encourages researchers not only to contribute to health gains, but also to consider the impact of research on people and the environment.
3. Identifying opportunities, connecting stakeholders and conveying knowledge
ZonMw also has a signaling and connecting role. We identify knowledge gaps, bring stakeholders together and help to make good examples visible. In doing so, we support the dissemination of knowledge about effective sustainability measures and encourage collaboration between policy, education, research and practice.
For example, ZonMw contributed to the Research Agenda on Sustainability: Medical Specialist Care of the Federation of Medical Specialists. This agenda identifies the key knowledge gaps in making specialist (only in Dutch) medical care more sustainable.
ZonMw works together with:
- The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport
- Organisations participating in the Green Deal on Sustainable Care
- Care organisations and care professionals
- Researchers and knowledge institutes
- Networks focusing on Planetary Health, One Health, and Climate & Health
- Professional associations and sector organisations
Resources and inspiration
Researchers, care organisations and other professionals can make use of a range of tools to consider sustainability in research and implementation:
What preparatory work has ZonMw done already?
-
Since 2018, ZonMw has been involved in the Green Deal on Sustainable Care. In December 2022, we also signed the Green Deal on Sustainable Care 3.0. Through this commitment, we joined collective ambitions such as reducing environmental impact, stimulating knowledge development and increasing awareness within the care sector. Based on the Green Deal, ZonMw developed the vision document Sustainable Care, Prevention and Welfare.
-
In 2022, ZonMw carried out an exploration of the knowledge and research needed to stimulate sustainable care. This exploration was commissioned by ZonMw’s Management Team and conducted in collaboration with the programme team for Sustainable Care at the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport. The exploration demonstrated that knowledge development and innovative partnerships are essential to accelerate sustainability in practice.
-
In 2024, ZonMw conducted an organisation-wide inventory of ongoing activities relating to sustainable care, health and prevention. This work aligned with:
- The knowledge agendas for Climate and Health, One Health and Planetary Health
- The 2024-2026 Implementation Programme for Sustainable (Public) Care and Welfare of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport.
Based on this work, the most important knowledge gaps were identified.
-
As a follow-up to the vision document Sustainable Care, Prevention and Welfare, ZonMw intern Margot Stone investigated in 2025 how European research funders incorporate sustainability into their funding regulations. The study resulted in recommendations for ZonMw on how sustainability can be further embedded within funding instruments and procedures.