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Seeking ways to reduce waste during a pandemic may feel like an impossible or unimportant task, but it is more important than ever. Greenhouse gas emissions from waste represent 1-5% percent of U.S. emissions, and hospitals produce an average of 30 pounds of waste per patient per day. Most hospitals are experiencing an increase in waste during the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily due to the increased use of disposable PPE. During times of crisis, health systems are under intense pressure to serve the community while remaining financially viable. Waste reduction offers hospitals an opportunity to… Read More
Type: Press
"Adding novelty to an item can entice an individual to try something that they may not otherwise try." - Michael Atanasio, Overlook Medical Center
Overlook Medical Center in New Jersey is a signatory of the Cool Food Pledge, a new platform to help hospitals offer diners more of what they want while slashing food-related greenhouse gas emissions.
Overlook is one of 64 signatories from health care.
Here are some thoughts from Michael Atanasio, Overlook's director of food and nutrition:
Why have you focused on plant-forward eating in your facility?
Plant-centered diets can offer… Read More
Type: Resources
Leading U.S. hospitals recognized for transforming health care's response to the climate crisisRESTON, VA (DATE) – We are living through a historic convergence of global crises. Among them, the climate crisis stands as humanity's most urgent and widespread health threat – and also the greatest opportunity in a century to advance public health. Health care, with its healing mission and responsibility to protect community well-being, must lead the way toward a sustainable, low-carbon, and resilient future.Practice Greenhealth is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Environmental… Read More
Type: Press
Reducing water consumption is a great place for hospitals and health systems to start improving their environmental impact and sustainability practices. There are many reasons water is and should be an area of focus:
Hospitals use approximately 7% of all water use in commercial and institutional U.S. facilities, which is costly when the price of water has slowly been rising over the last decade.
By 2030, it’s estimated that global water supply will only be able to meet 60 percent of our population’s needs.
Though hospitals are often exempted from water conservation regulations in times… Read More
Type: Basic page
Introduction to carbon offsets
A carbon offset is a project or activity that reduces emissions of greenhouse gases to compensate for emissions created elsewhere. The Clean Development Mechanism of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change offers the public and private sector in high-income nations the opportunity to purchase carbon credits from offset projects in low- or middle-income nations. Common types of offset projects include forestry and land use, renewable energy, energy efficiency, methane destruction, industrial gases, fuel switching, and clean cookstoves.
Carbon… Read More
Type: Basic page
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Ella Schwotzer, Director of Public Relations, press@hcwh.orgHealth Care Without Harm urges health sector organizations to commit to climate-smart, resilient operations[Atlanta, GA, May 6, 2025] – Today, at CleanMed, the premier national conference for leaders in health care sustainability, Health Care Without Harm launched the Health Sector CARES (Climate Action, Resilience, and Equity Solutions) Pledge. The pledge is a voluntary commitment for health sector organizations to plan for climate resilience and reduce their environmental impact, including cutting… Read More
Type: Press
Here you will find guidance, resources, tools, and ways to engage with your peers and other stakeholders across the value chain to support your food journey and help achieve your organization’s priorities and goals.
The way our food is produced, processed, transported, consumed, and disposed of has profound impacts on individual, community, and planetary health. Hospitals and health systems across the country are achieving their organizational priorities by focusing on food-related initiatives.
Make the case
Core values for a better food system
These values underpin the goals… Read More
Type: Basic page
The Climate and Health Innovation Award recognizes a hospital or health system for innovative work that addresses the health and equity impacts of climate change. Health Care Without Harm’s Health Care Climate Council reviews award applications, looking for creative approaches to move the health sector forward in ways that have not been widely deployed. This year's 2022 awardee is Jesse Brown VA Medical Center (VAMC), in acknowledgement of their groundbreaking technology to capture waste anesthetic gas for recycling and reuse.
"The Health Care Climate Council is pleased to recognize Jesse… Read More
Type: Press
“I just wanted to send some quick feedback about the menu. The new lentils dish along with the tofu today were both fantastic! I also especially like when you have legume-based salads as part of the salad bar. In any case, thank you so much for continually expanding the healthy vegetarian options!” - Medical resident at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire is a signatory of the Cool Food Pledge, a new platform to help hospitals offer diners more of what they want while slashing food-related greenhouse gas emissions.
Dartmouth-… Read More
Type: Resources
UW Health quietly pushed forward since its 2017’s big achievement in LEED Gold for the American Center, a first for Wisconsin and one of 17 in the United States. Commitments to continue conservation have increased with formal targets in water intensity reduction by 5% across the portfolio of buildings, having seven buildings that meet or exceed the EnergyStar score of 75, all while completing direct and indirect (scope I and scope II) emissions inventory that account for fleet vehicles, anesthetic gas, energy utility purchases, and more.
“Our highly engaged staff is key to our success,”… Read More
Type: Press
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.
Who We Are
Practice Greenhealth is the leading sustainable health care organization, delivering environmental solutions to more than 1,700 hospitals and health systems in the United States and Canada. Partnership opportunities include hospitals, health systems, community health organizations, NGOs, nonprofits, government, academic institutions, and the health care value chain.