Marking Greener Allied Health Professionals Week earlier this year, we heard about how the project has brought together adult and paediatric dietitians, patients, carers and medical nutrition company Nutricia to reduce waste while maintaining safe and effective nutritional support.

A key part of the initiative has been replacing single-use feeding containers with reusable Sterifeed bottles that can be used for up to a month. With support from dietitians, families have successfully made the switch, leading to an 83% reduction in single-use container use between March 2025 and January 2026.

Helen Fraser-Mayall, Lead Dietitian at West Cumberland Hospital, said the project not only benefits the environment but also delivers significant cost savings for the NHS, highlighting the impact that can be achieved through collaboration with patients, carers and families.

For many families, the benefits go beyond sustainability. Lucy Ralphs, Lead Paediatric Dietitian, said reusable bottles have helped reduce the volume of plastic packaging in homes while making everyday life easier for families managing complex care needs.

One of those families is Sarah Morgan and her six-year-old son, Joey Moody, who receives nutrition through a gastrostomy tube. Sarah says the reusable bottles have reduced storage requirements, cut down on recycling, and made deliveries much more manageable.

This initiative is a great example of how small changes can make a significant difference for patients, families, the NHS and the environment.

Find out more about the project and Joey’s story on the NCIC website: Dietitians Lead the Way in Plastic Reduction.