Health Care Sector Advances Sustainability in 2024, New Data Shows

Practice Greenhealth 2025 Environmental Excellence Awards reveal key trends in climate resilience, emissions reduction, and plastic waste minimization.

July 2, 2025 –New data from the 2025 Environmental Excellence Awards, collected and analyzed by Practice Greenhealth and Health Care Without Harm, highlights significant strides in environmental sustainability across U.S. health care facilities. The aggregated results from nearly 493 reporting hospitals show measurable progress in planning for climate resilience, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and curbing single-use plastic waste — with notable financial and operational benefits.

Record Participation and Environmental Impact

Participating hospitals reported more than $203 million in savings from environmental programs in 2024 and collectively avoided 185,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions through mitigation projects. Additional achievements included substantial water savings and large amounts of waste diverted from landfills.

Trend 1: Surge in Climate Resilience Planning

Hospitals are increasingly preparing for the health impacts of climate change, with a 140 % increase in partner hospitals setting formal goals to develop climate resilience plans compared with the previous year. In 2024, 61 % of reporting facilities had established resilience plans, up from 38 % in 2023, reflecting growing recognition that extreme weather events pose serious risks to patient care and infrastructure.

Trend 2: Broad Commitment to Reducing Climate Impact

Approximately 70 % of health care facilities are now actively reducing their climate footprint. Executive leadership is increasingly incorporating climate risk into strategic planning, with a growing number of organizations setting specific greenhouse gas reduction targets. In 2024, 351 applicants set formal emissions goals, up markedly from previous years, while many facilities invested in renewable energy and energy efficiency measures.

Trend 3: Expansion of Plastic Waste Reduction Efforts

Nearly half of reporting hospitals are working to reduce single-use plastic use within their operations. Examples include device reprocessing and selection of reusable alternatives. Strategic procurement changes and staff engagement have resulted in reduced waste and cost savings, while also supporting broader sustainability goals.

Sector-wide Benefits and Future Outlook

The 2025 benchmark data underscores how sustainability investments — from resilience planning to emissions mitigation and waste reduction — are delivering measurable benefits for health systems, patients, and communities. It also sets the stage for continued environmental leadership in health care into 2026 and beyond.

About Practice Greenhealth and Health Care Without Harm

Practice Greenhealth serves as the environmental sustainability hub for Health Care Without Harm, supporting more than 1,700 hospitals and health systems in the United States and Canada. Through the Environmental Excellence Awards and Sustainability Benchmark Report, the organizations provide critical data, recognition, and tools to accelerate sustainability across the health care sector. (Health Care Without Harm)

Link to Article: https://us.noharm.org/news/3-health-care-sustainability-trends-follow-2025?utm_source=chatgpt.com