Sustainability Plan
St. Vincent’s Medical Center
Sustainability Council
What is sustainability?
The traditional definition of sustainability
calls for policies and strategies that meet
society’s present needs without
compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs.
US Environmental Protection Agency
Mission Statement
The mission of the Sustainability Council at
St. Vincent’s Medical Center is to be
100% committed to conserving and
protecting our natural environment as
well as its natural resources by
continuously assessing and
implementing opportunities to improve
our sustainability practices.
Vision Statement
The vision of the Sustainability Council is to
lower our environmental impact through
the use of natural sustainable resources
while improving the health and safety of
our patients, employees, community and
our environment.
Best Practice Sustainability
Organization
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Culture / Human Resources
Sustainability Purchasing Policy
Departmental and/or Unit Champions
On-going recycling programs, awareness
and possibilities i.e. blue wrap, single use
devices, etc.
 Energy Efficiency
 Healthy Food Initiatives
Where are we?
Initiative Stage
 A formal initiative with top management
support.
 There are formal structures to support
sustainability (e.g., a sustainability coordinator,
a sustainability council)
 Development of sustainability is being
embedded into formal practice across the
organization (e.g., new employee orientation)
YTD Accomplishments
 Implemented greening the cleaning chemical program
 Micro-Fiber Mops: This has saved the medical center
approximately 122,640 gallons of water annually. It has also
helped reduce this amount of soiled mop water being emptied in to
our waste stream.
 Recycling: Currently recycling bottles, cans, plastic, cardboard,
office paper, used frying oils, formalin, xylene, alcohol, mixed and
rechargeable batteries, toner containers, lead, mixed electronic
equipment, ballasts and light bulbs (Fluorescent, U-Shaped, Circle
line and compact
 Grounds and Pest Control Management: Eliminated the use of
all pesticides on our grass, plants, flowers and shrubs utilizing an
organic fertilizer.
 Reusable Sharps Containers
YTD Accomplishments
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Farmers Market
Purchase milk without recombinant Bovine
Growth Hormone (rBGH)
Eliminate trans fats
Purchase Free Trade Coffee
Increased use of locally grown produce
Increased offering of fruits & vegetable by
eliminated chips with sandwiches and
implementation of “fruit & veggie” card.
Eliminated bottle water
Eliminated Styrofoam
YTD Accomplishments
 Air Emissions: 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 %
less than the New England Average, Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) 1.04. This is 73 % less than the New England Average.
 Heat Recovery: 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.
 Natural Lighting: The use of natural light vs. electrical light where applicable to help reduce use and cost on
electric.
 Mercury Free Environment
 Smoke Free Environment
 Film-less Imaging
 Healthy Living Programs
Goals & Objectives FY12
Through establishing sustainability practices the Sustainability Council will
demonstrate our commitment by:
- Reducing environmental waste
- Establish a system wide single stream recycling program to recycle
cardboard, bottles, cans, plastics from 1 through 7 and paper.
- Recycle all Universal Waste; batteries, toner cartridges, light bulbs, lead,
ballasts, and mixed electronic equipment.
- Purchase and utilize environmentally preferred products
- Reduce and reuse the use of energy and water resources where and
whenever possible
- Implement healthy food choice options and programs
- Educate our employees and community to help build a culture of
sustainability awareness
- Implement a complete OR sustainability program
How do we measure our
success?
A sustainability dashboard will be the tool
utilized to set and establish goals that will
outline how we are actually doing on a
specific measurable initiative.
This will enable the Sustainability Council
to focus on implementing tactics to help
achieve or improve a goal.
Example Dashboard
approved /
benchmark / goal
Waste Management
Facilities Management
Single Stream
(cardboard, bottles,
cans, paper and all
plastics 1-7)
15.00%
Light Bulbs
(Fluorescent, UShaped, 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%
CO2 Emissions
5%
Water Consumption
7%
Electricity
Consumption
Fuel Consumption
28%
10%
FY10
Jul
Aug
Sep
FY11
YTD
CURRENT
COMMENTS
Challenges
 Culture Change
 Educational Needs
 Communication
 Financial Considerations
How You Can Help
 Reduce paper use by decreasing the number of
handouts and double-siding papers.
 Turn off lights and PC’s
 Decrease medical product waste – take only the
amount of products you need into patient rooms
 Use the right containers when recycling
 Carpool to work
 Think of what you can do in your department and be a
unit champion
 Bring your own mug and/or coffee cup
Questions?
"The supreme reality of our time is ...the
vulnerability of our planet."
John F. Kennedy