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The "Greening" of Healthcare

The “greening” of healthcare is no longer simply a social initiative, in May, 2009 the World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) challenged the healthcare industry to take active steps to reduce the waste produced and the environmental impact that facilities have on the environment, the goal being to establish a global network for climate-friendly health care.

”The health sector can play a leadership role in
reducing the magnitude and consequences of
global warming by reducing its climate footprint…
and set an example for other sectors, thereby
playing a leadership role in advocating for a
healthy and sustainable future”
- Maria Neira,
Director of WHO’s Department of Public Health and Environment

ways of addressing the climate footprint
of the health sector proposed by the WHO:

ENERGY EFFICIENCY - reduce consumption and costs through conservation and efficiency.
GREEN BUILDING DESIGN - optimize energy consumption by climate.
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY – produce, consumer renewable energy
TRANSPORTATION - use alternative fuels, encourage non-fuel based transportation
WASTE - reduce, reuse, recycle
FOOD - use local sustainable sources
WATER - use alternatives to bottled water where safe

For Medline's Environmental Policy Statement, please contact Amy Janik at ajanik@medline.com