Sustainability might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about your website. But in today’s climate-conscious world, digital sustainability is becoming an increasingly important topic—and your healthcare organisation’s site plays a bigger role than you might think.
Every web page view, image download, or streaming video generates carbon emissions. The energy used by servers, data centres, networks, and end-user devices adds up—especially for content-rich websites serving thousands of members.
The good news? You don’t need a total redesign to make meaningful improvements. With a few focused changes, you can reduce your website’s carbon footprint, improve its speed and performance, and show your commitment to sustainability—all at the same time.
Why sustainability matters for healthcare organisations
Healthcare and sustainability go hand in hand. As an organisation committed to wellbeing, it makes sense to consider how your digital practices align with your environmental values.
Adopting more sustainable digital habits also signals to members, funders, and partners that your organisation is progressive, responsible, and future-ready.
And it doesn’t hurt that greener websites are usually:
- Faster
- Cheaper to host
- Better for SEO
- More user-friendly
Quick wins that make a real difference
Here are some high-impact, low-effort improvements you can make today—or through our Supercharge or Care Plans—to make your website more sustainable.
1. Optimise your images
Images often account for the bulk of a web page’s data. By compressing them without losing quality, you can dramatically reduce your site’s load time and energy use.
- Use modern file formats like WebP
- Resize images to the maximum dimensions needed
- Use tools like TinyPNG, ImageOptim or ShortPixel
We’ve seen some websites reduce page weight by over 60% just through better image handling.
2. Reduce unnecessary plugins and scripts
Every plugin you install adds code to your site—often loading styles, scripts, or tracking pixels that increase page size and slow things down.
Audit your plugins regularly and remove anything not essential. Consolidate functionality where possible.
Bonus: Fewer plugins also mean better security and less maintenance.
3. Lazy-load images and videos
Instead of loading every image and video when the page opens, lazy-loading only loads them when they’re visible on the screen.
This reduces the initial load time, uses less bandwidth, and improves both sustainability and usability.
4. Minimise video usage (or host it smartly)
Videos are data-heavy. If they auto-play or run in the background, they can drain energy unnecessarily.
- Use thumbnails or preview images until users press play
- Host large videos on platforms like Vimeo or YouTube (but disable autoplay)
- Compress videos before uploading
And always ask: Does this video serve a clear purpose?
5. Clean up your content
Old news posts, outdated PDFs, and duplicate resources bloat your site and make it harder for users (and search engines) to find what matters.
- Archive or remove content that’s no longer useful
- Reorganise key resources into streamlined hubs
- Create redirects to avoid dead ends and duplicate content
Less clutter = less data = lower impact.
6. Switch to green hosting
Your hosting provider plays a big part in your digital emissions. Look for companies that:
- Run on renewable energy
- Offset their carbon emissions
- Provide transparency reports
At More Time To, we offer sustainable hosting options through trusted partners who meet these criteria.
7. Measure your progress
Use tools like Website Carbon Calculator (websitecarbon.com) to see how your site compares and track improvements over time.
This can also be a useful metric to share in your annual reports or sustainability strategy.
Good for the planet, great for your users
Sustainable design principles often overlap with best-practice user experience:
- Faster load times mean happier users (and better Google rankings)
- Cleaner designs improve readability and engagement
- Simpler architecture makes it easier to maintain and scale
In short, what’s good for the environment is usually good for your members too.
A smarter strategy, not just a green badge
We don’t advocate sustainability for the sake of it. We promote it because:
- It aligns with your mission
- It improves your digital performance
- It helps future-proof your organisation
And in a world where funders and partners increasingly expect environmental awareness, even digital sustainability can give you a competitive edge.
Let’s make a start
Whether you’re running a complex membership portal or a simple public-facing site, there’s always room to do better.
Our Website Check-Up includes sustainability diagnostics, and our Supercharge Plan incorporates green best practices into every improvement we make.
Because when it comes to sustainability, it’s not about being perfect—it’s about making progress.
