Due to its large size and its intensive use of resources, the global healthcare system emits more than 2 gigatons of CO2 annually and accounts for 5 to 8.5% of total greenhouse gas emissions in developed nations, according to a 2020 study in Health Affairs.

As scientists paint a clearer picture of our climate reality, taking action to prevent worst case scenarios is critical. HealthCare Business News sat down with Scott Rich, growth & marketing director at Practice Greenhealth, to find out how hospitals can reduce their carbon footprint and support a healthier planet.

HCB News: How have conversations around sustainability in healthcare evolved in the last five years or so?
Scott Rich: Five years ago, conversations around sustainability often focused on ROI, with health care organizations asking us how sustainable practices would save them money. The conversation has since evolved – organizations are increasingly recognizing that investing in sustainability is the right thing to do for our communities and the planet.

We find more health care leaders are now seeking out our expertise. These leaders understand sustainability’s place in their work, especially as extreme weather and other climate disruptions, combined with the challenges of the pandemic, exposed the fragility of the supply chain. We also hear that organizations are receiving more external pressure from stakeholders.

HCB News: When a hospital wants to become more eco-friendly but has no idea where to begin, what do you tell them?
SR: I always let organizations know the work begins with one step. Sustainability doesn’t happen overnight – it’s a journey, and every hospital’s journey is a little different. One hospital’s first step may not be the same as another's, but in most cases an organizational structure and governance approach is a solid first step. I like to think of Practice Greenhealth as the guide for each organization’s journey. We were founded to help hospitals and health care begin this work and continue to elevate their sustainability focus.

HCB News: Are there some universal benchmarks that providers in the U.S. should strive for, or should different types of facilities have different goals?
SR: There are dramatic differences between hospitals and health systems across the United States. A rural, critical access hospital has different challenges than a large health system. A health system located in one market or state may find efforts less challenging than a health system with facilities located in multiple markets or states.

At a minimum, health care organizations should collect and analyze data on their water, waste, and carbon footprints to establish their baselines. Practice Greenhealth’s data collection platform can assist with this process. We’re here to help hospitals and health systems get the right information to make the best decisions about sustainability program strategy and success, which leads to improved decision-making and focused efforts.

HCB News: What do you tell people who say they cannot afford to prioritize sustainability due to budget constraints?
SR: It sounds cliche, but health care organizations really can’t afford not to prioritize sustainability. In many cases, sustainable operations and choices breed efficiency and cost savings.

From a values standpoint, hospitals produce a significant amount of waste, which goes to the landfill. They are expected to operate 24/7, so their energy footprint is consequential. It’s critical for health care organizations to clean up their own systems and fulfill their mission to heal by addressing the social and environmental conditions making their patients sick in the first place.

We’ve seen survey findings from Deloitte showing Gen Z and millennials are actively working to address the climate crisis and have the desire to work for companies that share their values of prioritizing sustainability and climate health. It’s important from a talent management perspective for hospitals to prioritize this work and be transparent about their efforts.

HCB News: How does Practice Greenhealth help providers in their mission to go green?
SR: Practice Greenhealth draws on years of lived experience along with staff and partner expertise to help educate, guide, and inspire health care organizations to plug into this work and actively engage. Everything we do is strategically designed to strengthen, accelerate, and transform an organization’s sustainability work – and it’s prioritized in different impact areas.

Our network of nearly 1,600 hospitals has been a strong component of our expert guidance. They are finding solutions, overcoming challenges, and sharing their expertise at events such as our CleanMed conference, taking place this May in Pittsburgh, and our other virtual offerings like webinars and cohorts.

HCB News: Can you name some examples where a sustainable approach correlates directly with lower costs?
SR: I’ll preface these examples by saying that not all cost-savings strategies are felt equally, and some may have a longer payback period.

We’ve guided hospitals to work with third-party reprocessors to purchase medical devices and reduce the waste of a single-use device. Hospitals have reported savings of over $6,000 per operating room. HVAC setback – a simple strategy to help save utility costs by reducing how often your heating and cooling system operates – can save approximately $2,500 per operating room.

Sustainable practices across the hospital or system can have even greater impacts. In terms of employee engagement and retention, it costs a lot to recruit and train new employees. Health care organizations can attract and retain employees by having a solid mission and strategy that addresses sustainability and corporate social responsibility.

HCB News: Is there anything else fundamental to a conversation about sustainability in healthcare that we haven't talked about?
SR: You could talk to any of my colleagues, and they could speak for hours about this topic and the challenges we have to face together. A conversation about social determinants of health is crucial and directly related to the hospital's role as an anchor institution.

Health care is at the epicenter of climate disasters, pandemics, and other public health emergencies, which individually and collectively have a disproportionate impact on people of color and reveal significant health and socioeconomic disparities within our communities.

We envision health organizations building physical, social, and economic conditions to support community health and well-being. We envision harnessing the enormous economic power and influence of the health care sector to move beyond emergency care toward healing the harm that exists today in the form of ecological degradation, health vulnerabilities, and economic disparities.

Improving access to care, economic stability, food insecurity, education, and safety in the communities health care serves is a fundamental component of sustainability strategy.