Tools and resources

Personal protective equipment for immunization practices

• Sustainable procurement
• Waste
• Global Green and Healthy Hospitals

This guidance document is part 3 of our series “Protection without pollution: COVID-19 waste-reduction strategies.” These three guides will help health systems, hospitals, and other health care providers set up successful immunization programs that protect the health of people and our planet.  This guidance is for health professionals who are using personal protective equipment (PPE) as they…

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Guidance for immunization waste management

• Sustainable procurement
• Waste
• Global Green and Healthy Hospitals

This guidance document is part 2 of our series “Protection without pollution: COVID-19 waste-reduction strategies.” These three guides will help health systems, hospitals, and other health care providers set up successful immunization programs that protect the health of people and our planet.  The world is undertaking the largest immunization campaign in history to fight COVID-19. Billions will…

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Guidance for sustainable glove purchasing

• Sustainable procurement
• Global Green and Healthy Hospitals

This guidance document is part 1 of our series “Protection without pollution: COVID-19 waste-reduction strategies.” These three guides will help health systems, hospitals, and other health care providers set up successful immunization programs that protect the health of people and our planet.  Gloves are the highest-volume disposable product purchased by health care. Glove use has increased…

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Mayo Clinic: Replacing freezers leads to energy and cost savings

• Case Study
• Sustainable procurement

  A total cost of ownership and Sustainable Health in Procurement Project case study Name of facility, location Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minnesota Highlights The Mayo Clinic had a fleet of over 1,000 lab freezers that use as much energy as about 1,000 homes. They standardized purchasing practices for their fleet of ultra-cold lab freezers to buy more energy-efficient models. By selecting…

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Renewable energy sources for hospitals

• Energy

Hospitals and health systems around the world are investing in clean, renewable energy to protect the health of their patients and communities, attract and retain top-tier talent, increase the resilience of their operations to disasters, and reduce energy costs and price volatility. Combining renewable energy with electricity storage can help hospitals remain operational during extreme weather or…

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2020 Sustainability Report

• Benchmark Report

Each year, Practice Greenhealth collects and compiles comprehensive sustainability data from hospitals that report through the Environmental Excellence Awards. Practice Greenhealth is then able to provide the sector’s best performance benchmarking data to hospitals and health systems working to build environmental stewardship into their mission. Sustainability initiatives can add value, reduce…

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Sample strategic sustainability plan

Seattle Children’s has long been a leader and a believer in sustainability, and is proud of the work they have already accomplished in many areas like recycling, transportation and green building. As one of the first medical centers in the country to apply the methods and scientific rigor of the Toyota Production System to healthcare, Children's has adapted the method as an organization-wide…

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Where to find sustainable products

• Sustainable procurement

Sample third-party labels, certifications, and databases for health care goods and services (Sustainable procurement guide) Finding sustainable products in health care is achievable through a number of resources. The list below provides links to sustainable products identified by Practice Greenhealth, Health Care Without Harm, and labels and certifications specific to the health care sector.…

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Standardized environmental criteria guidance

• Sustainable procurement
• Chemicals

Standardized environmental criteria technical details (Sustainable procurement guide) Practice Greenhealth’s standardized environmental criteria are explained in detail below in order for suppliers and health care organizations to understand the intent, rationale, and applications to products. General disclosure Responses to the following criteria are for information and may or may not be…

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Standardized environmental criteria

• Sustainable procurement
• Kaiser Permanente

(Sustainable procurement guide) To reduce human health and environmental impacts of products purchased in health care, the standardized environmental criteria support identifying and purchasing sustainable products. The criteria address two important impact areas: chemicals of concern and waste reduction. Practice Greenhealth has developed guidance for the criteria that explains to suppliers and…

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