HealthPartners
HealthPartners celebrated Earth Day in lots of different ways in 2017 – from electronics recycling to shred events to bee-friendly plants, there was something for everyone to participate in! Events took place throughout the whole week leading up to Earth Day and all across the Twin Cities Metro area and into Western Wisconsin.
In partnership with a local non-profit organization, TechDump, the health system hosted electronic recycling events for the third year in a row.
In honor of Earth Day, and the end of tax season, HealthPartners encouraged employees to bring in their personal sensitive documents to securely shred and recycle.
Lastly, HealthPartners partnered with a company called Plantables that is based out of Hudson, Wisc. Plantables hires adults of all abilities to make pollinator friendly products. Many HealthPartners facilities purchased their "Bee Bomb" product to giveaway to employees, patients, and members at their locations during Earth Day-themed events and activities.
Canton-Potsdam Hospital
Canton-Potsdam Hospital broke ground on a vegetable garden, located at one of our outpatient campuses, which will be planted and tended by staff and patients of our inpatient chemical dependency unit. Produce grown in the garden will be used by the chemical dependency patients, who prepare their own meals two days each week.
Gundersen Health System
Gundersen Health System did a few things in recognition of Earth Day 2017. They were a sponsor for the annual La Crosse earth fair event. This local community event features a recycling fair, children's activities, and numerous local vendors. Gundersen supports this event each year and also participates with a booth. Internally, Gundersen is having a "green" themed picture competition during the month of April where employees are encouraged to submit pictures of their departments doing "green" activities together as a team. The most creative "green" themed picture will receive a gift certificate. They are also setting up an educational display in our Onalaska clinic featuring our landfill energy project. Lastly Gundersen Envision is collaborating with Degen Berglund to sell "Envision Udderly Green Organic Compost" to employees. This compost is made from a fibrous material that is sourced from dairy digesters located in Middleton, Wisc. Offering this compost to employees gives them an opportunity to learn about Gundersen's involvement in renewable energy.
Seattle Children's
Seattle Children's hosted Dr. Aparna Bole from University Hospitals-Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital in Cleveland for an Earth Day presentation open to all staff and providers. Dr. Bole is a national voice for sustainability in healthcare. She spoke on the topic "What's good for the planet is good for our patients."
They also digitally released a Seattle Children's vegetarian/vegan cookbook from recipes submitted by staff. The goal is to encourage staff to connect their food choices to the environment.
