Our Sustainability Efforts Reap Rewards

I’m thrilled to share the news that Stony Brook University Hospital has been recognized once again with a Top 25 Environmental Excellence Award from Practice Greenhealth, the nation’s leading organization dedicated to environmental sustainability in healthcare.

The hospital previously received this award in 2020 and was honored with an Environmental Excellence Award in 2021. Hospitals that make up the top 25 are leading the industry in all-around sustainability performance, demonstrating comprehensive programs and illustrating how sustainability is entrenched in their organizational culture.

In addition to this highest honor from Practice Greenhealth, Stony Brook received two Circle of Excellence Awards as a Chemicals Circle Honoree and Transportation Circle Honoree and a Greening the OR Recognition Award, which honors facilities that have made substantial progress in reducing the impact of the surgical environment and improving environmental performance in the operating room.

Our strong commitment to sustainable healthcare has led the way for others in the region, and our Sustainability Program has grown considerably over the years. It’s so gratifying to know that the work we are doing is valued and appreciated.

Some of the efforts that led to this recognition include:

• The complete elimination of ethylene oxide (ETO) usage and removal of associated equipment (sterilizers/aerators and abators) from the Central Sterile Services Department.
• A partnership with Stony Brook University to increase hospital composting by 10 percent.
• An increase in the hospital’s off-site recycling quantities by eight percent with the collection of corrugated cardboard from two new off-site units.
• The addition of a sustainability question to the hospital’s Employee Engagement Survey to establish a baseline metric for staff awareness of the hospital’s Healthcare Sustainability Program.
• A harvest of close to 1,300 pounds of produce from the hospital’s Stony Brook Heights Rooftop Farm.

And, this recognition comes on the heels of Stony Brook University and Stony Brook Medicine receiving the Outstanding Commitment to Energy Efficiency award from the New York Power Authority (NYPA) this past spring as a result of aggressive strategy to reduce energy consumption and decrease greenhouse gas emissions through the university.

Every year, the hospital’s Sustainability Steering Committee identifies goals and objectives in the areas of leadership, reducing waste, reducing chemical use, greening the operating room and energy reduction. This year ahead, the committee has set out to:

• Research and implement the use of green products in the hospital, including hand soap and custodial cleaning products.
• Increase communication around our sustainability efforts.
• Study and improve at least one process in Anatomical Pathology to identify potential ways to decrease waste and provide an educational opportunity for staff involved.
• Develop a culinary medicine program for medical students.
• Complete and open a pediatric roof-top sustainable garden in the Hospital Pavilion.

I’d like to extend my gratitude and thanks to the members of the Sustainability Steering Committee who lead and participate in a number of initiatives inspired by eight guiding principles set forth by Practice Greenhealth: less waste, safer chemicals, greening the OR, healthy food, environmentally preferable purchasing, energy/water conservation and green building. But, this work is also carried out by many, many hospital employees on a daily basis, who contribute significantly to the success of our Sustainability Program.

I’m so honored that we received this recognition from Practice Greenhealth, and I hope you take pride in knowing that our continued efforts will have a positive impact on our patients, staff and the community for years to come. Congratulations to all!

Carol