Sustainability Plan Sustainability Plan

St. Vincent’s Medical CenterSt. Vincent’s Medical Center

Sustainability CouncilSustainability Council

What is sustainability?What is sustainability?

The traditional definition of sustainability The traditional definition of sustainability calls for policies and strategies that meet calls for policies and strategies that meet society’s present needs without society’s present needs without compromising the ability of future compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. generations to meet their own needs. 

US Environmental Protection AgencyUS Environmental Protection Agency       

Mission StatementMission Statement

The mission of the Sustainability Council at The mission of the Sustainability Council at St. Vincent’s Medical Center is to be St. Vincent’s Medical Center is to be 100% committed to conserving and 100% committed to conserving and protecting our natural environment as protecting our natural environment as well as its natural resources by well as its natural resources by continuously assessing and continuously assessing and implementing opportunities to improve implementing opportunities to improve our sustainability practices. our sustainability practices.

Vision StatementVision Statement

The vision of the Sustainability Council is to The vision of the Sustainability Council is to lower our environmental impact through lower our environmental impact through the use of natural sustainable resources the use of natural sustainable resources while improving the health and safety of while improving the health and safety of our patients, employees, community and our patients, employees, community and our environment. our environment.

Best Practice Sustainability Best Practice Sustainability OrganizationOrganization

Culture / Human ResourcesCulture / Human Resources Sustainability Purchasing PolicySustainability Purchasing Policy Departmental and/or Unit ChampionsDepartmental and/or Unit Champions On-going recycling programs, awareness On-going recycling programs, awareness

and possibilities i.e. blue wrap, single use and possibilities i.e. blue wrap, single use devices, etc. devices, etc.

Energy EfficiencyEnergy Efficiency Healthy Food InitiativesHealthy Food Initiatives

Where are we?Where are we?Initiative Stage Initiative Stage

A formal initiative with top management A formal initiative with top management support.support.

There are formal structures to support There are formal structures to support sustainability (e.g., a sustainability coordinator, sustainability (e.g., a sustainability coordinator, a sustainability council)a sustainability council)

Development of sustainability is being Development of sustainability is being embedded into formal practice across the embedded into formal practice across the organization (e.g., new employee orientation)organization (e.g., new employee orientation)

YTD AccomplishmentsYTD Accomplishments

Implemented greening the cleaning chemical programImplemented greening the cleaning chemical program Micro-Fiber Mops: Micro-Fiber Mops: This has saved the medical center This has saved the medical center

approximately 122,640 gallons of water annually. It has also approximately 122,640 gallons of water annually. It has also helped reduce this amount of soiled mop water being emptied in helped reduce this amount of soiled mop water being emptied in to our waste stream. to our waste stream.

Recycling: Recycling: Currently recycling bottles, cans, plastic, cardboard, Currently recycling bottles, cans, plastic, cardboard, office paper, used frying oils, formalin, xylene, alcohol, mixed and office paper, used frying oils, formalin, xylene, alcohol, mixed and rechargeable batteries, toner containers, lead, mixed electronic rechargeable batteries, toner containers, lead, mixed electronic equipment, ballasts and light bulbs (Fluorescent, U-Shaped, Circle equipment, ballasts and light bulbs (Fluorescent, U-Shaped, Circle line and compactline and compact

Grounds and Pest Control Management:Grounds and Pest Control Management: Eliminated the use of Eliminated the use of all pesticides on our grass, plants, flowers and shrubs utilizing an all pesticides on our grass, plants, flowers and shrubs utilizing an organic fertilizer.organic fertilizer.

Reusable Sharps ContainersReusable Sharps Containers

YTD AccomplishmentsYTD Accomplishments

Farmers MarketFarmers Market Purchase milk without recombinant Bovine Purchase milk without recombinant Bovine

Growth Hormone (rBGH)Growth Hormone (rBGH) Eliminate trans fatsEliminate trans fats Purchase Free Trade CoffeePurchase Free Trade Coffee Increased use of locally grown produceIncreased use of locally grown produce Increased offering of fruits & vegetable by Increased offering of fruits & vegetable by

eliminated chips with sandwiches and eliminated chips with sandwiches and implementation of “fruit & veggie” card.implementation of “fruit & veggie” card.

Eliminated bottle waterEliminated bottle water Eliminated StyrofoamEliminated Styrofoam

YTD AccomplishmentsYTD Accomplishments

Air Emissions:Air Emissions: The electricity we buy from TransCanada is cleaner (significantly) than the traditional supply The electricity we buy from TransCanada is cleaner (significantly) than the traditional supply in NE. Carbon Dioxide (CO2) 721.6. This is 33 % less than the New England Average, Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) 0.60. This is 58 % in NE. Carbon Dioxide (CO2) 721.6. This is 33 % less than the New England Average, Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) 0.60. This is 58 %

less than the New England Average, Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) 1.04. This is 73 % less than the New England Average.less than the New England Average, Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) 1.04. This is 73 % less than the New England Average. Heat RecoveryHeat Recovery: Heat recovery units have been installed on the new building which help utilizing the air from : Heat recovery units have been installed on the new building which help utilizing the air from

our existing heat to recalculate through filtered ventilation then back on to our facility.our existing heat to recalculate through filtered ventilation then back on to our facility.

Natural LightingNatural Lighting: The use of natural light vs. electrical light where applicable to help reduce use and cost on : The use of natural light vs. electrical light where applicable to help reduce use and cost on

electric.electric. Mercury Free Environment Mercury Free Environment

Smoke Free EnvironmentSmoke Free Environment

Film-less Imaging Film-less Imaging

Healthy Living ProgramsHealthy Living Programs

Goals & Objectives FY12Goals & Objectives FY12

Through establishing sustainability practices the Sustainability Council will Through establishing sustainability practices the Sustainability Council will demonstrate our commitment by:demonstrate our commitment by:

- Reducing environmental wasteReducing environmental waste- Establish a system wide single stream recycling program to recycle Establish a system wide single stream recycling program to recycle

cardboard, bottles, cans, plastics from 1 through 7 and paper. cardboard, bottles, cans, plastics from 1 through 7 and paper. - Recycle all Universal Waste; batteries, toner cartridges, light bulbs, lead, Recycle all Universal Waste; batteries, toner cartridges, light bulbs, lead,

ballasts, and mixed electronic equipment.ballasts, and mixed electronic equipment.- Purchase and utilize environmentally preferred productsPurchase and utilize environmentally preferred products- Reduce and reuse the use of energy and water resources where and Reduce and reuse the use of energy and water resources where and

whenever possiblewhenever possible- Implement healthy food choice options and programsImplement healthy food choice options and programs- Educate our employees and community to help build a culture of Educate our employees and community to help build a culture of

sustainability awareness sustainability awareness - Implement a complete OR sustainability program Implement a complete OR sustainability program

How do we measure our How do we measure our success? success?

A sustainability dashboard will be the tool A sustainability dashboard will be the tool utilized to set and establish goals that will utilized to set and establish goals that will outline how we are actually doing on a outline how we are actually doing on a specific measurable initiative.specific measurable initiative.

This will enable the Sustainability Council This will enable the Sustainability Council to focus on implementing tactics to help to focus on implementing tactics to help achieve or improve a goal. achieve or improve a goal.

Example DashboardExample Dashboard 

 approved /

benchmark / goal FY10 Jul Aug SepFY11 YTD

CURRENT COMMENTS

Waste Management

Single Stream (cardboard, bottles, cans, paper and all

plastics 1-7) 15.00%            

Light Bulbs (Fluorescent, U-

Shaped, Circleline and compact) 3.00%            

Office Paper 10.00%            

Xylene, Formaldehyde,

Alcohol 5.00%            

Batteries (Rechargeable & Lead

Acid) 3.00%            

Mixed Electronic Equipment 7.20%            

   

 

Facilities Management

CO2 Emissions 5%             

Water Consumption 7%             

Electricity Consumption 28%28%            

Fuel Consumption 10%             

ChallengesChallenges

Culture ChangeCulture Change

Educational NeedsEducational Needs

CommunicationCommunication

Financial ConsiderationsFinancial Considerations

How You Can HelpHow You Can Help

Reduce paper use by decreasing the number of Reduce paper use by decreasing the number of handouts and double-siding papers.handouts and double-siding papers.

Turn off lights and PC’sTurn off lights and PC’s Decrease medical product waste – take only the Decrease medical product waste – take only the

amount of products you need into patient roomsamount of products you need into patient rooms Use the right containers when recyclingUse the right containers when recycling Carpool to workCarpool to work Think of what you can do in your department and be a Think of what you can do in your department and be a

unit championunit champion Bring your own mug and/or coffee cupBring your own mug and/or coffee cup

Questions? Questions?

""The supreme reality of our time is ...the The supreme reality of our time is ...the vulnerability of our planet.vulnerability of our planet.""

John F. KennedyJohn F. Kennedy