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Example of a specialist clinic with a comprehensive commitment to ecological responsibility

Publikationsdatum: 2. April 2025
Letzte Änderung: 2. April, 2025

This clinic in German-speaking Switzerland with around 1,200 employees specialises in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. It offers a wide range of medical services, including preventive measures, surgical interventions and rehabilitation. The clinic places great importance on ecological sustainability and environmental management by implementing innovative projects for energy efficiency, waste reduction and the use of renewable energy.

 

Goal 1

By 2026, we will reduce the hospital's operational energy consumption by 25% based on ongoing analysis and the corresponding prioritisation of climate-relevant areas in our hospital operations.

Measures

  • Carry out the analysis of the machines' energy consumption and check savings potential during modernisation.
  • Optimise waste heat utilisation and natural cooling of large medical devices, such as the magnetic resonance tomograph, through a circular helium circulation system and open-air cooling at low outside temperatures.
  • Introduce sustainable procurement guidelines and intelligent maintenance cycles to maximise the machines' energy efficiency.
  • Renew the building envelope insulation and install triple-glazed windows as part of conversions, refurbishments and new builds with Minergie-ECO standard. Holistic planning for new buildings and renovations with aspects such as plenty of natural light, wood as a building material, safe materials, renewable energy with wood pellet heating or photovoltaic systems.

Goal 2

By 2026, we will replace 30% of our ambulance fleet with hybrid, environmentally friendly vehicles, thereby improving our ecological footprint.

Measures

  • Install charging infrastructure at the relevant locations.
  • Install energy-efficient LED lighting systems and advanced air conditioning systems in the ambulances.
  • Introduce reusable materials for interior fittings, such as washable seat covers made from sustainable fabrics.
  • Conduct training for drivers on environmentally friendly driving behaviour, such as fuel-efficient driving and minimising standby consumption.

Goal 3

By 2026, we will increase our contribution to medical care for people in need in other regions of the world by releasing up to 10% of our medical staff for at least two months each year for non-profit projects.

Measures

  • Introduce a leave of absence programme for medical professionals to enable them to participate in non-profit projects (e.g.Médecins sans frontières).
  • Establish official partnerships with non-profit organisations and local social institutions to provide project opportunities.
  • Prepare medical professionals for the requirements and benefits of non-profit commitments through an annual event for exchange with the community of former programme participants.
  • Develop key figures for measuring the positive impact of staff deployed in medical aid in humanitarian contexts and in the field of human rights. Examples include the number of people treated and lives saved per operation.

Goal 4

By 2028, medical waste in hospitals will be reduced by 30%.

Measures

  • Review and replace disposable materials with reusable and recyclable alternatives (e.g. reusable medical instruments and textiles).
  • Implement a waste prevention strategy and deliver annual training for staff on correct waste disposal (e.g. (5R method, waste disposal manual) as well as half-yearly waste analyses and prepare detailed reports for the continuous improvement of waste management.
  • Analyse packaging sizes and work with manufacturers to adapt to actual demand, implement a flexible ordering system based on precise demand forecasts and introduce a system to fully utilise opened medicines.
  • Introduce a recycling programme, including a system for transferring discarded medical devices to other healthcare or research institutions or for their professional return to manufacturers.
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