PRODUCT & SERVICE LINE REPORTS efforts. By asking a vendor what their


most aggressive sustainability goal is, you can start to identify which companies are taking these issues seriously and may be able to help you achieve your sustain- ability and public health goals.”


3.Contracting for/investing in sustainably designed and/or manufactured prod- ucts: “Given that purchasing is such an important part of sustainability, using contracts to lock in better pricing for products that support your organiza- tion’s mission and goals should be a high priority.”


Mikhail Davis, Director of Technical Sustainability, Interface


1.Reprocessing/reusing products when and where appropriate: “[This] often- times reduces cost, helping to enhance the business care for environmental sus- tainability, and is a relatively quick win compared to other sustainability initia- tives, still resulting in a big payoff.”


2.Contracting for/investing in sustainably designed and/or manufactured prod- ucts: “Medical suppliers are increasingly developing environmentally friendly products that better serve the environ- ment without compromising patient care. I recommend putting the onus on your suppliers and inquire about their sustainable product offerings to discover items in their portfolio that can serve as a substitute for products currently being purchased that do not have sustainable characteristics. The more health systems can collaborate with their suppliers on their sustainability journey, the more innovation we’ll see in the space – ulti- mately helping healthcare sustainability professionals achieve their goals.”


Evelyn Miller, Senior Manager,


Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), Medline Industries


1.Recycling (versus disposing) of equip- ment, furniture, mattresses: “Recycling your institution’s old mattress is rela- tively easy compared to some other recy- cling program. The Mattress Recycling Council will pick up your old mattress and transport them at no cost to you to a recycling facility. You will not pay a disposal fee nor any transportation costs. You may view it as low-hanging fruit or no-brainer recycling.


2.Conserving/reducing energy and resource consumption: “The Mattress Recycling Council recycles about 75% of all the components within a mat- tress. In the last six years, MRC has diverted more than 380 million pounds of steel, foam, fiber and wood from


landfills and recycled these materials into new products.”


Joy Broussard, California Program and Logistics Coordinator, Mattress Recycling Council


1.Contracting for/investing in sustainably designed and or manufactured products


2.Calling for more detailed information on product labeling that identifies compo- nents and raw materials to facilitate more sustainable sourcing decisions


3.Reducing chemicals of concern in the products


Rob Chase, Founder & CEO, NewGen Surgical Inc.


1.Conserving/reducing energy and resource consumption, including (but not limited to) electricity, fuels and water: “Conservation of energy and resources must hold a preeminent place in our planning. Cutting our consump- tion directly reduces our impact on the environment and lessens the need for further mitigation. Energy conservation also directly addresses a health system’s scope 1 and 2 emissions. Finally, efforts to reduce electricity usage at a particular facility can potentially avoid the need for expensive infrastructure upgrades as further draw is added to the facility’s footprint due to future electrification, e.g., vehicle charging, gas-to-electrical switching, etc.”


2.Incorporate climate/environmental awareness in all building/construction/ renovation projects: “Environmental awareness during building/renovation, etc., goes hand-in-hand with energy and resource conservation. Health systems, guided by supply chain, should be set- ting ambitious energy and performance targets for new builds and renovations. Making this a priority right from the start will yield buildings that perform better and more cost effectively over their entire lifespan. Complying with today’s codes may not be enough, we need to build in a way that is future proofed against the rapid changes that we should expect over the next few years.”


3.Reducing chemicals of concern in the products themselves as well as the manufacturing process (e.g., PVC, DEHP, etc.) – or at least contracting with those suppliers/vendors who do this: “Elimination of toxics is always a priority. This protects not only our patients but also everyone that touches the product throughout its lifecycle, from production to disposal.”


Andrew Knox, Manager, Environmentally Preferred Products, Premier


52 November 2022 • HEALTHCARE PURCHASING NEWS • hpnonline.com


1.Contracting for/investing in sustainably designed and/or manufactured products


2.Reducing material waste, including the disposal of new and unused but expired products and the disposal of soiled/ used products


3.Conserving/reducing energy and resource consumption, including (but not limited to) electricity, fuels


Andy Marshall, CEO, Sterilis Solutions


1.Conserving/reducing energy and resource consumption: “Advancing a journey to carbon neutrality and ultimately net zero through energy reduction via energy effi- ciency projects, renewable procurement and renewable power purchase agree- ments, among other pathways, is critical to reduce a company’s carbon footprint. It is a priority for Stryker as we have set a goal to make all Stryker facilities carbon neutral (scopes 1 and 2) by 2030.”


2.Reducing material waste: “Waste reduc- tion is an area in which the industry will need to continue to create innovative solu- tions, including in the manufacturing of products. Stryker has invested heavily in additive (or 3-D) manufacturing, which has shown to create less waste.”


3.Contracting for/investing in sustainably designed and/or manufactured products: “Packaging that considers recyclability, responsible materials and weight will become increasingly important, not only for long-term environmental sus- tainability but also for cost savings. It is also important to develop a system that tracks and traces sustainability efforts vs. achievements and records standardized progress: Implementation of this tracker for Environmentally Preferred Purchasing (EPP) programs and transparency with suppliers of the results will drive more accountability and engagement on the sustainable procurement journey.”


Eileen Buckley, Vice President, Corporate Responsibility, Stryker


1.Calling for more detailed information on product labeling that identifies compo- nents and raw materials to facilitate more sustainable sourcing decisions


2.Develop a database that tracks and traces sustainability efforts vs. achievements and records standardized progress.


3.Contracting for/investing in sustainably designed and/or manufactured products “Any of the above sustainability initiatives are important to further improvements in human and environmental health. The key targets depend on organizational goals that may include: waste reduction, utilization of safer chemicals, carbon neutrality, transpar- ency and more.


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