Healthcare organizations report $235 million in annual savings linked to sustainability initiatives including medical device reprocessing and energy efficiency.

Practice Greenhealth announced the recipients of its 2026 Environmental Excellence Awards, recognizing 430 healthcare organizations for leadership in sustainability, environmental stewardship, and climate resilience. This year’s awards cycle was the largest in the program’s history, with 430 partner organizations submitting data representing more than 700 healthcare facilities across the US and Canada, according to a release from the organization.

In total, Practice Greenhealth is issuing 538 awards across 11 areas of sustainability. Participating organizations reported approximately $235 million in combined savings from environmental programs in 2025, according to preliminary findings from the organization.

Financial Impact of Sustainability Programs

The report highlights significant financial returns from various environmental initiatives. Medical device reprocessing and energy efficiency projects each generated median annual savings of approximately $48,000 per organization.

Other high-impact areas included projects focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, which generated median annual savings of more than $77,000 per organization. Pharmaceutical stewardship initiatives generated median annual savings of more than $75,000, while organizations working to reduce plastic use reported median annual savings of $61,000.

“The organizations recognized this year are proving that sustainability is a strategic imperative for healthcare,” says Gwyneth Jones, senior director at Practice Greenhealth, Health Care Without Harm, in a release. “By reducing emissions, cutting waste, strengthening resilience, and generating millions in savings, they are showing that the future of high-quality healthcare is one that protects people, communities, and the planet at the same time.”

Institutional Commitment and Strategic Planning

The 2026 data shows a high level of institutional support for sustainability efforts. According to Practice Greenhealth, 99% of participating organizations reported having an executive sponsor for sustainability initiatives and a dedicated sustainability professional at the hospital or health system level.

The findings also indicate that 97% of organizations have established sustainability targets and track progress through goals or key performance indicators. Furthermore, 73% of participants have developed and published a strategic sustainability plan, and 66% have set public sustainability goals.

Top Health System Honorees

Practice Greenhealth provided special acknowledgment to its inaugural Top Health System honorees, Providence and Mount Sinai. These organizations were recognized among the top 5% of highest-scoring and highest-performing health systems in the program.

The awards program includes 16 of the top 20 hospitals ranked by US News and World Report. Among the Top 25 Environmental Excellence Award honorees for 2026 are Advocate Christ Medical Center, Boston Medical Center, Hackensack Meridian Health facilities, Stanford Health Care, and the University of Michigan Health.

According to the release, these organizations demonstrate that growing healthcare demand does not need to result in a growing burden on the climate.

2026 Top 25 Environmental Excellence Award Honorees: 

  • Advocate Christ Medical Center and Advocate Children’s Hospital – Oak Lawn
  • Atlantic Health Chilton Medical Center
  • Atlantic Health Morristown Medical Center
  • Boston Medical Center
  • Hackensack Meridian Bayshore Medical Center
  • Hackensack Meridian Hackensack University Medical Center
  • Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center
  • Hackensack Meridian Ocean University Medical Center
  • HealthPartners Methodist Hospital
  • HealthPartners Regions Hospital
  • Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford
  • Providence St. Patrick Hospital
  • Providence Swedish Medical Center – Ballard
  • Providence Swedish Medical Center – Cherry Hill
  • Providence Swedish Medical Center – First Hill
  • Providence Swedish Medical Center – Issaquah
  • Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
  • Rush University Medical Center
  • Stanford Health Care
  • Stony Brook University Hospital
  • The University of Vermont Medical Center
  • UC Davis Health
  • UCI Health
  • UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center
  • University of Michigan Health – Michigan Medicine

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