Data from U.S. Hospitals Shows Decreased Environmental Impacts and Costs
In the first-ever Healthier Hospitals Initiative 2012 Milestone Report, 370 HHI-member hospitals indicate that they have reduced their environmental footprint, lowered costs and improved patient health by incorporating sustainability initiatives into their business models. This is the first time hospitals have quantified sustainability efforts by collecting and reporting data to show movement.
Launched in April 2012, HHI is a national campaign to improve health of patients, staff, and the community; reduce environmental impact by the sector; and experience considerable fiscal savings that reduce the overall national health care costs through better public health.
The 2012 HHI Milestone Report summarizes the Initiative’s first year of progress, with 370 HHI enrollees of all sizes and types contributing their experiences to the data. Some of the report’s key findings include:
- More than 50 million pounds of materials recycled, plus an additional 61.5 million pounds of construction and demolition waste kept out of landfills through reuse and recycling.
- About $32 million in savings resulting from single-use medical device reprocessing.
To learn more about the campaign, or to download a copy of the full report, visit www.healthierhospitals.org.