Reducing the carbon footprint of healthcare through sustainable procurement

Considering the large carbon footprint of procurement for the healthcare sector, sustainable procurement policies, strategies, and practices (particularly when carried out on a large scale), can be a key leverage point for decarbonising the supply chain and achieving climate-smart healthcare.

Sustainable procurement can greatly reduce the health sector’s carbon footprint and drive the shift towards a low-carbon economy, ensuring that high environmental and social standards are upheld.

The World Bank estimates that the healthcare sector makes contributes approximately 5% of global carbon emissions.

Through purchasing and investment choices, the health sector can help drive market transformation to a low carbon economy.

HCWH Europe’s latest factsheet Reducing the carbon footprint of healthcare through sustainable procurement provides case studies and recommendations for hospitals and health systems so they can make responsible decisions to guarantee both human and environmental health throughout their entire supply chain.

The measurement of greenhouse gas emissions is a crucial first step towards identifying the most carbon-intensive “hotspots” and developing plans and strategies for reduction. One of the most comprehensive tools that exists for the measurement, tracking, storing, and visualisation of environmental data, is Global Green & Healthy Hospital (GGHH)’s Hippocrates Data Centre.

The opportunity is ripe for the healthcare sector to reduce its carbon emissions through procurement practices.