Sustainability solutions for health care

Practice Greenhealth is the leading membership and networking organization for sustainable health care, delivering environmental solutions to hospitals and health systems across the United States.

See how we can help you:

Buildings

Promote green and healthy health care facility design, construction, renovation and operations in order to minimize environmental impacts and foster restorative and sustainable healing environments.

Read more

Chemicals

Work with health care to eliminate harmful chemicals or substitute them with safer alternatives while minimizing chemical exposure of patients, health care workers, communities, and the environment.

Read more

Climate and Health

Health systems and health professionals are implementing business-smart initiatives that also protect their communities from increased diseases and more frequent extreme weather events caused by climate change.

Read More

Energy

Accelerate the implementation of energy efficiency while promoting clean, renewable energy in health care, mobilizing the sector as a leader for a healthy energy future for all.

Read more

Engaged Leadership

Almost 90 percent of the top-performing institutions in our sustainability benchmark report have an executive-level champion at the top of the reporting structure.

Read more

Food

Promote, purchase, and serve sustainably grown, healthy food to improve environmental health, build better food systems, and address the upstream social and economic determinants of non-communicable diseases.

Read More

Greening the OR

Though a tiny percentage of a hospital’s total physical footprint, operating rooms can drive big facilities’ cost savings and efficiency improvements through smart, incremental, sustainable practices.

Read More

Sustainable Procurement

Sustainability professionals and purchasing managers should work together to embed sustainability into purchasing processes and engage suppliers to provide innovative, sustainable products with a reduced impact on human health and the environment.

Read More

Transportation

Promote transportation strategies for patients, their families, and staff that support healthier local and regional transport systems while reducing health care's environmental impact.

Read More

Waste

Promote zero waste policies, reduce the volume and toxicity of waste produced by the health care sector, and implement safe, sustainable disposal options as alternatives to incineration.

Read More

Water

Reducing water consumption is a great place for hospitals and health systems to start improving their environmental impact and sustainability practices.

Read More
Published: May 6, 2025
Health Care Without Harm launched the Health Sector CARES (Climate Action, Resilience, and Equity Solutions) Pledge, a voluntary pledge for U.S. health sector organizations committed to climate-smart, sustainable operations, increased resilience, and emergency preparedness.

News & Updates

Heroes & highlights from CleanMed

May 12, 2025

Last week, Health Care Without Harm and Practice Greenhealth brought together more than 800 health care sustainability leaders at CleanMed – the premier health care sustainability conference.  Attendees engaged in unparalleled opportunities for peer collaboration and learning, gaining practical strategies, tools, and connections to accelerate progress toward their sustainability goals.   We also celebrated climate champions and highlighted the momentum toward a sustainable, resilient, and equitable future – with health care leading the way.   Check out our heroes & highlights

Read More

Announcing the 2024 Health Care Culinary Contest winner

May 8, 2025

Join us in celebrating the grand prize winner of the 2024 Health Care Culinary Contest: Keck Hospital’s deconstructed Honduran tamale.This year’s winner, Chef Luis Santos from Keck Hospital of USC, br...

Read More

An advocate's vision for community-led environmental health solutions

May 8, 2025

Environmental Health Hero Award recipient Eboni Neal Cochran is relentlessly fighting for environmental justice in Louisville.

Read More

Practice GreenHealth newsletter

Sign up to get the latest news and resources in your inbox.