Search Results
Displaying results 51 - 60 of 90
The imperative
The Lancet Commission characterized climate change as both the “biggest global health threat” and the “greatest global health opportunity” of the 21st century. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 2018 report, we need to cut emissions in half by 2030 and get to net-zero emissions by 2050 to keep warming to 1.5°C and avoid the most catastrophic impacts of climate change.
Solving health problems always starts with setting a goal. Establishing a leadership-endorsed, ambitious target motivates staff and helps drive strategies and resources for success… Read More
Type: Basic page
“Not only does this project impact greenhouse gasses from keeping food waste out of the landfill, it is also about dollars saved, which is important to hospital administrators, and then there is the food rescue piece which is what is really important to our community.”
– Jack Breezee, Sutter Health regional director of food and nutrition services
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Sutter Health knew they were wasting food but didn’t know how much. They wanted to find a way to reduce food waste – and knew they could help their community at the same time.
Sutter Health partnered with our… Read More
Type: Basic page
Understanding how distributors, suppliers, carriers, and service providers move hospital materials can help hospitals make smart choices when it comes to choosing suppliers with responsible and efficient transportation practices.
Strategies such as requiring that preferred suppliers participate in programs focused on adopting advanced, fuel-efficient technologies and operational practices for freight or developing campus-wide no-idle policies and practices, including on the loading dock, can save fuel and fuel costs while also reducing hazardous air pollution.
Suppliers who are EPA… Read More
Type: Basic page
Healthier Hospitals (HH) was a great success due to the thousands of hospitals and health systems that committed to the six challenges to improve sustainability performance. It represented a shared leadership around healthier communities and provided hospitals of all sizes with free tools and resources that help focus sustainability efforts on the health care sector's biggest areas of opportunity and risk. Our success is due in large part to the strong partnerships we've formed with health care organizations and other nonprofit organizations.
In many cases, these challenges helped get… Read More
Type: Basic page
Health care culinary professionals across the country are taking their menus to new levels in creativity and flavor, all powered by plants.
Health Care Without Harm and Practice Greenhealth teamed up with Menus of Change, an initiative of The Culinary Institute of America and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health to host another Health Care Culinary Contest.
Encourage your chef and culinary professionals to participate. Your facility could be home to the next America's top hospital chef.
Learn more
Type: Basic page
Concerns over infection prevention, continued increase in the use of single-use, disposable plastics, and changes in international recycling markets and a lack of U.S.-based material recovery facilities have left operating rooms awash in single-use medical plastics. Additionally, a 0.5 percent contamination rate requirement on marketable medical plastics has challenged the compliance of many hospital recycling programs.
One ubiquitous medical plastic, ”blue wrap,” is estimated to make up almost 20 percent of all operating room waste. While these plastics do an excellent job of keeping… Read More
Type: Basic page
The Visionary Leader Award recognizes annually one senior-level health care executive who is making a significant contribution to health care sustainability through groundbreaking and innovative strategies, and mentorship. The winner will be a leader who has effectively advocated for and woven sustainability and environmental stewardship into health care operational excellence. Below are the past winners.
2019 Visionary Leader Award Winner
Alison Santore
Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Social Responsibility
Providence
2019 Visionary Leader Award Winner
Barbara E. Tretheway… Read More
Type: Basic page
Helping hospitals provide diners more of what they want while slashing food-related greenhouse gas emissions.
Across the country, clinicians and medical associations are extolling the health benefits of plant-forward eating, and hospitals are responding by reducing meat and increasing plant-centered menu options. Learn what it takes to become a pledge signatory and give diners more of what they want while slashing food-related emissions, saving costs, and improving health by watching the short video above.
Learn more
Why pledge?
The Coolfood Pledge is a tool that will help you… Read More
Type: Basic page
Plant-forward is a style of cooking and eating that emphasizes and celebrates, but is not limited to, foods from plant sources – fruits and vegetables (produce), whole grains, legumes (pulses), nuts and seeds, plant oils, and herbs and spices – and reflects evidence-based principles of health and sustainability. – Culinary Institute of America
Plant-forward is the most delicious “quadruple” bottom line approach that health care can take – achieving social, environmental, and financial goals while providing great-tasting food.
Explore why food champions in every profession from chefs to… Read More
Type: Basic page
Ask any business or sustainability consultant to name a key requirement for program success and they’ll tell you that having an executive or c-suite level sponsor is at the top of their list. There are several reasons for this. First, the sponsor makes sure that the program's goals and objectives are aligned with hospital strategy, and that it has the support, from the top and the bottom, to be successful. Second, the sponsor plays a more strategic role focusing efforts on creating conditions for success or removing impediments, leaving the tactical work to the sustainability leader.
A… Read More
Type: Basic page
Join Practice Greenhealth
Practice Greenhealth is the health care sector’s go-to source for information, tools, data, resources, and expert technical support on sustainability initiatives that help hospitals and health systems meet their health, financial, and community goals.