UCLA Health has received the 2018 Practice Greenhealth Emerald Award in recognition of its efforts to support sustainability and environmental stewardship. Practice Greenhealth is the nation’s leading organization dedicated to environmental sustainability in health care.
The award recognizes health care organizations that are setting the standard in eliminating mercury, reducing and recycling waste, reducing energy use, and also promoting sustainable sourcing among other things. The Emerald award, which is UCLA’s first, is given to hospitals that demonstrate a strong commitment to sustainability and show leadership in the local community and in health care. Only 20 percent of 600 hospitals nationwide achieve Emerald status.
“As health care providers, sustainability is at the core of our healing mission and central to protecting the health of our patients, staff and community,” said Paul Watkins, chief administrative officer for UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica. “We look forward to continuing this work to drive the future of health care toward sustainability.”
The Department of Environmental Services and Sustainability at UCLA Health implemented many successful initiatives leading to the award. Those initiatives include: nearly 40 percent rate of waste recycling; nearly “zero waste to landfill” status in cafeterias and dining facilities through recycling and composting programs; more than 50 percent of its transportation fleet powered by alternative energy sources; drought-resistant landscaping; transition to more energy efficient lighting and co-leading the new UC Health Sustainability Working Group.
UCLA Health previously received the Practice Greenhealth Partner for Change Award recognizing superior performance in environmental sustainability each year from 2014 through 2017.
Learn more about the UCLA Health Department of Environmental Services and Sustainability.
