Our Commitment To Environmental Health
Cleveland Clinic stands for better health, which includes reducing the air, soil and water pollution that affects communities and ecosystems. Formed in 2007, Cleveland Clinic’s Sustainability Department supports resource stewardship, green design, sustainable procurement and community resilience efforts, as well as education and engagement to promote sustainable behaviors. Key functions of the Sustainability Department include:
- Developing Cleveland Clinic’s sustainability strategy.
- Measuring and managing environmental impacts.
- Empowering caregivers and community members to take action at work, at home and in our communities to make a positive impact on human and environmental health.
Cleveland Clinic also has 29 enterprise green teams that champion sustainability efforts at our hospitals and family health centers, and four working groups that focus on integrating sustainable practices into our operating rooms, clinical practice and research, laboratories and pharmacies. These caregivers work together to drive progress on our goals by modeling sustainable behaviors, educating colleagues, initiating and leading pilot projects, hosting events, promoting engagement and sharing ideas for improvement.
Environmental sustainability goals
| Issue | Goal | 2022 Progress |
|---|---|---|
| Climate | Carbon neutral (scope 1 and 2) by 2027 | 22% overall and 32% intensity reduction |
| Energy | Reduce energy use per square foot by 40% from 2010 baseline by 2030 | 18% reduction |
| Local & Sustainable Food | Source at least 30% of food for main campus from local and/or sustainable sources | 41% sourced locally |
| Waste | Divert 100% of non-hazardous waste from landfill by 2027 | 26% diversion |
| Water | Reduce water use per square foot by 10% from 2016 baseline by 2027 | 13% reduction |
In addition to the goals listed above, we also have commitments to healthy buildings, sustainable procurement, annual sustainability reporting, sustainability education and engagement, community tree planting and low carbon transportation.
Environmental Health Reporting
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is a key part of our decarbonization strategy. Our efforts include facility upgrades, building automation systems and engaging caregivers in energy stewardship.
Climate Resilience
We collaborate with others to develop and share best practices in healthcare decarbonization, increase greenspace and raise awareness about the ways climate change impacts on health.
Waste Reduction
Our landfill diversion efforts go beyond recycling and include programs to reduce, reuse, reprocess, donate and compost various materials to eliminate waste.
Healthy Buildings
Our facilities are an important part of the patient, visitor and caregiver experience, and our teams work together to design and operate environments that promote health.
Sustainable Procurement
We advocate for a greener supply chain by collaborating with industry groups and encouraging vendors to measure and improve their environmental performance.
Water Stewardship
Through efficient water use and responsible waste management, we strive to be good stewards of freshwater sources near our facilities.
