Making the case for sustainability in hospitals and health systems depends on how the conversation is framed.
Recently, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, through its Initiative for Global Environmental Leadership, partnered with Johnson & Johnson to improve sustainability initiatives in the healthcare field.
According to Wharton and J&J, the healthcare sector accounts for 8 percent of greenhouse gas emissions and generates more than 5.9 million tons of waste every year. However, many hospitals and health systems have begun to change the tide: About 87 percent have incorporated sustainability into their operations, and almost 20 percent of all hospitals invested more than $1 million into sustainability projects last year.
The challenge, however, rests in "quantifying sustainability and engaging stakeholders across the healthcare value chain," according to the two groups. To make sustainability more of an imperative for healthcare CFOs and other stakeholders, Wharton and J&J officials spotted three trends.
1. Monetize the value of sustainability. Establishing a methodology to show the value of sustainability will go a long way to create a successful, long-term program.
2. Communicate sustainability initiatives clearly and transparently. Leadership is great at telling the sustainability story — and how the hospital is a greener, more sustainable community member — but more can be done to broadcast all initiatives within an organization's sustainability program.
3. Collaborate with procurement. Supply chain is a big part of hospital sustainability efforts today, and this department must be a big component of important decision-making.
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