Practice Greenhealth

Sustainable Procurement

Virtual cohort group

Body

Many products and materials that come into hospitals may contain or release carcinogens, reproductive toxins, or other hazardous materials, exposing patients, staff, and the community to harm. Purchased goods and services also account for a majority of the energy and water use by the sector. Participants meet to share best practices in engaging group purchasing organizations (GPO) and suppliers, integrating environmentally preferable purchasing (EPP) in value analysis, and identifying cost saving opportunities. Also, time is reserved during each session for participants to receive quick problem-solving advice on any timely issues or challenges. 

Target audience: Sustainability leads, supply chain, procurement  
Level: Beginner to intermediate
 

John Ullman Facilitator:
John Ullman
Contact: jullman@hcwh.org

 

“Since cost is always a key driver for supply chain, a best practice is to identify ways the organization can save money in order to engage supply chain leadership.” – Kyle Tafuri, Hackensack Meridian Health

This cohort is one of the largest with more than fifty participants represented by some of the facilities below:

  • Allina Health System 
  • Atrium Health
  • Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
  • Boston Medical Center  
  • Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
  • CommonSpirit
  • HealthPartners
  • Henry Ford Health System 
  • Hackensack Meridian Health - Hackensack University Medical Center
  • Inova Health System
  • Intermountain Healthcare
  • IU Health
  • Kaiser Permanente
  • Mayo Clinic Health System
  • Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
  • Mount Sinai Health System
  • NYU Langone
  • Providence 
  • Rush University Medical Center
  • Seattle Children's Hospital
  • Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital
  • SSM Health
  • Standford University Medical Center 
  • Stony Brook University Medical Center
  • Sutter Health
  • Tenet Health
  • UC San Diego Health System
  • UCLA Health
  • UCSF Medical Center
  • VCU Medical Center 

 

2023 Schedule

March 16, 2023 2:00 PM EST

Topic: How to benefit from products with ecolabels

Discussion questions:

  1. Which ecolabels or environmental standards do you currently specify?
  2. Have you procured any Greenhealth Approved products?
May 11, 2023 2:00 PM EST 

Topic: The power of procurement to support communities

Discussion questions:

  1. How are your facilities working to be more resilient in the face of future crises, particularly those stemming from climate change?
  2. What investments are your facilities making to support local economies?
  3. Are you taking into account any environmental and health impacts resulting from local industries?
July 27, 2023 2:00 PM EST 

Topic: Prioritizing plastics reduction opportunities  

Discussion questions:

  1. Have you done an inventory to understand the best opportunities for plastics reductions at your facilities? 
  2. Have you identified potential opportunities or already completed transitioning single-use plastics to reusable products?
  3. What barriers have you faced when trying to address plastics?
October 26, 2023 2:00 PM EST 

Topic: Data solutions for tracking sustainable procurement 

Discussion questions:

  1. What framework have you used for monitoring and evaluating success? 
  2. Are there tools you use in your ERP system to support sustainable procurement? 
  3. Can you provide an example of successfully tracking and reporting a type of product, which subsequently led to better purchasing decisions? 
  4. Are you tracking Scope 3 emissions?

     

    Ready to get started? Register today.

    Sessions take place on a recurring basis using Zoom as the meeting platform. To join this cohort or any of the other cohorts, please click the button below. If you have discussion topic ideas or want to invite a peer, please contact the cohort facilitator. 

    Register today

    Recent session presentations

    Content Box
    Log in for access to this resource

    Join Practice Greenhealth

    Practice Greenhealth is the health care sector’s go-to source for information, tools, data, resources, and expert technical support on sustainability initiatives that help hospitals and health systems meet their health, financial, and community goals.

    Join now

    Who We Are

    Practice Greenhealth is the leading sustainable health care organization, delivering environmental solutions to more than 1,500 hospitals and health systems in the United States and Canada. Partnership opportunities include hospitals, health systems, community health organizations, NGOs, nonprofits, government, academic institutions, and the health care value chain.