One hundred hospitals pledge to create climate-friendly, plant-forward menus

One hundred hospitals pledge to create climate-friendly, plant-forward menus

Practice Greenhealth is celebrating a climate-friendly, plant-forward milestone: Over 100 hospitals have signed the Coolfood Pledge, an international, cross-sector effort to achieve a science-based collective target of reducing emissions from food by 25% by 2030.

Four hospitals joined the pledge when it was initially launched in late 2018. In June 2023, Northwell Health, which operates 21 hospitals and serves 10 million meals per year, became a signatory and helped the health care sector surpass the 100-hospital milestone. Along with being the largest health system to sign the pledge to date, Northwell Health is a nonprofit integrated health care network and New York state’s largest health care provider and private employer. 

Coolfood hospitals work to slash food-related greenhouse gas emissions, while saving costs and improving health. Health care signatories receive technical assistance from Practice Greenhealth, the leading sustainable health care organization, delivering environmental solutions to more than 1,500 hospitals and health systems in the United States and Canada.

“We are thrilled to support hospitals throughout their journey,” said John Stoddard, associate director of food and climate strategy at Practice Greenhealth. “Hospitals are implementing various tactics to promote plant-based diets, like offering more plant-based options, reducing meat in existing dishes, and using marketing strategies such as renaming dishes and creating appealing descriptions to encourage diners to choose plant-based meals.”

Hospitals and health systems interested in joining the pledge are encouraged to visit practicegreenhealth.org/coolfoodpledge. For organizations in other sectors, visit coolfood.org for more information.