Tools and resources

Kaiser Permanente: Sustainable food policy

  • Food
  • Environmental Nutrition
  • Food Service
  • Exemplary Document
  • Kaiser Permanente
This is a sustainable food policy for Kaiser Permanente Health System.  Kaiser Permanente aspires to improve the health of our members, employees, our communities and the environment by increasing access to fresh, healthy food in and around KP facilities. Kaiser Permanente supports food systems that are ecologically sound, economically viable and socially responsible by the way food is purchased…

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Washington Hospital and Healthcare: Sustainable food policy

  • Food
  • Environmental Nutrition
  • Food Service
  • Exemplary Document
  • Washington Hospital
This is a sustainable food policy from Washington Hospital and Healthcare. In accordance with Washington Hospital Healthcare System’s Statement of Environmental Goals, we will strive to be an environmental leader in a manner that protects environmental and human health. In establishing a healthy and sustainable food policy, Washington Hospital recognizes its responsibility to carry out its…

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University of Washington Medical Center: Sustainable food services policy

  • Food
  • Environmental Nutrition
  • Food Service
  • Exemplary Document
  • University of Washington Medical Center
This is a sustainable food services policy from the University of Washington Medical Center. Implicit in the University of Washington Medical Center’s (UWMC) mission statement is its “commitment to the ongoing health of the people of the region.” This is a commitment to the wellbeing of UWMC patients, staff, visitors, students, the City of Seattle and the broader Northwest community it serves.…

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Virginia Mason: Community benefit report

  • Food
  • Engaged Leadership
  • Exemplary Document
  • Virginia Mason
  • Community Benefit
This exemplary document describes findings of the community health needs assessment, the implementation plan, and how Virginia Mason addressed community needs through community benefit programming, projects, and partnerships. 

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Gundersen Health System: Tech-based measuring for food waste prevention

  • Food
  • Food Case Study
  • Case Study
  • Gundersen
  • Waste
  • Food
  • food waste
  • Toolkit
 A Practice Greenhealth Case Study “If you can do something to reduce the waste, you’re doing the right thing for the environment, you’re saving money, and you’re doing something that’s socially responsible. It’s a win-win-win all the way around.”  – Tom Thompson. Gundersen Health Systems' baseline revealed they were throwing out an average of half a ton of food every week — approximately 24…

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Gunderson food waste case study

Johns Hopkins Hospital: Balanced menus

[Plant-Forward Future] Given that meat is often the most expensive product category for hospital food service departments, Johns Hopkins Hospital adopted a “less meat, better meat” strategy, first reducing by 15% the amount of meat they purchased overall in 2014 and then investing in purchasing healthier, more sustainably-produced meat products.

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Plant-Forward Future thumbnail image

Environmental considerations for reusable sharps containers

  • Sustainable procurement
  • Reuse, donate, or sell
  • Medical Device Reprocessing
  • Greening the Operating Room
  • Guide
Suggested environmental considerations and RFP questions for reusable sharps containers to facilitate the purchasing process.

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Earth Day: Recycle Poster

  • Earth Day
  • Poster
Poster to celebrate why health care should recycle for Earth Day and every day. The poster reads "Recycle The Prescription for a Healthy Environment. Take a moment to recycle your materials." The poster can be used to point the way to recycling facilities. 

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Earth Day recycle poster

Creating healthy retail food environments in health care facilities

  • Food
  • Food Service
Hospital workers experience an 8.6 percent higher burden of illnesses such as diabetes, congestive heart failure, hypertension, and obesity than the general U.S. workforce. Although patient meals are carefully calibrated for their nutritional profile and tailored for specific diets, food and beverages sold in hospital retail settings are often out of line with dietary recommendations. There are…

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Environmental considerations for reusable textiles (gowns, scrubs, etc)

  • Sustainable procurement
  • Textile Reuse
  • Reuse, donate, or sell
  • Guide
These are suggested environmental considerations for the RFI/RFP for reusable textiles that are in addition to some of the Standardized Environmental Questions for Medical Products, V1.0. This contract category for reusable textiles covers everything from towels and blankets, staff and patient apparel, to room decor (such as curtains, drapes).

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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.

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