In healthcare, sustainability is not an abstract goal. It’s directly tied to how we care for people, today and in the future.
Every day, our hospitals rely on energy, supplies and systems that have a real impact on the environment. At the same time, we see firsthand how environmental factors affect the health of our patients and communities. That connection makes this work both practical and necessary.
Over the past year, we made meaningful progress across our organization. We reduced waste in key areas, addressed food insecurity for patients in need and strengthened how sustainability is incorporated into our daily operations. Just as important, we built a stronger foundation by embedding sustainability into planning, education, and accountability at every level of the organization.
Our focus for 2026 is to build on that momentum with clear, measurable goals that touch every part of the hospital.
Strengthening Leadership and Accountability
- We are continuing to strengthen leadership and accountability, including aligning sustainability with our broader strategic plan, engaging staff through education and training and maintaining transparency through regular updates.
- We will also expand collaboration through participation in national initiatives, continued alignment with the HHS Climate Pledge, and participation in the AAMC Accelerating Sustainability and Resilience working group.
Reducing Waste
- Reducing waste remains a major priority. In 2026, we will focus on lowering hazardous and pharmaceutical waste, improving how materials are used in patient care, and expanding efforts to reduce unnecessary single-use items.
- At the same time, we are advancing more sustainable clinical practices, including efforts within the operating room to reduce waste and evaluate more efficient systems and equipment.
Greening the OR and Beyond
- We are also taking steps to reduce the environmental impact of the products we use, which includes evaluating safer alternatives to certain chemicals and increasing reprocessing efforts for medical devices and supplies.
- These changes may seem small on their own, but together they represent a meaningful shift in how we deliver care more responsibly.
Advancing Sustainable Food and Nutrition
- Our work extends beyond clinical spaces. In food and nutrition, we are expanding support for food-insecure patients, increasing sustainable sourcing and continuing to reduce waste in our kitchens and retail operations.
- We are also exploring composting and broader recycling efforts to reduce our environmental footprint further.
Sustainable Facilities and Operations
- In facilities and operations, we are continuing investments in energy efficiency, including major infrastructure projects like the curtain wall project at SBUH that will reduce long-term energy use.
- We are also beginning new work in areas such as sustainable landscaping, walking trails and green building design to ensure that sustainability is reflected in how we grow and maintain our campus.
- Equally important is how we purchase and manage supplies. In 2026, we will expand environmentally preferable purchasing and standardize products across our hospitals, helping reduce variation, lower waste and make more sustainable choices at scale.
We know there is more work ahead, and I am excited by the steady, meaningful progress we are making. We are moving forward with clear goals, stronger systems and a shared commitment across our teams.
Sustainability, at its core, is about responsibility to our patients, students and community. The goals we’ve set for 2026 give us a clear direction, and the steps we have taken are an important part of meeting that responsibility, now and in the years ahead. I look forward to building on this momentum in May at the in St. Louis, where I will represent ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½ on an AAMC panel focus on leadership strategies to advance sustainability across academic medical health systems.
Thank you to our staff, partners, and patients who support this effort every day.