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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Water

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

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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

Environmental Health Hero Award recipient Eboni Neal Cochran’s relentless fight for environmental justice in Louisville

May 8, 2025

Eboni Neal Cochran, longtime Louisville proponent for environmental justice and co-director of Rubbertown Emergency ACTion (REACT), is the recipient of Health Care Without Harm’s highest honor – the 2025 Environmental Health Hero Award. Cochran was recognized for her persistent advocacy for the people who live and suffer in the shadow of Louisville's chemical corridor.“This recognition confirms I'm going in the right direction,” Cochran says with measured pride. “But more importantly, it provides another opportunity for people to learn about the issues that plague communities impacted by environmental injustice – like here in Louisville. That's what really makes it meaningful to me.”Cochran received the Environmental Health Hero award on May 8 during Health Care Without Harm and Practice Greenhealth’s annual CleanMed conference. Celebrate her historical fightThe Environmental Health Hero...

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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...

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Health Care Without Harm Announces 2025 Sadler Fellows and Emerging Physician Leader awardees

May 7, 2025

Health Care Without Harm is thrilled to announce the recipients of two prestigious programs that recognize and support rising leaders committed to climate-smart, sustainable, and equitable health care...

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