to main content Sustainable Healthcare Resource Center | The Joint Commission

About the Resource Center

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions while caring for patients doesn’t have to be difficult — and can lead to significant returns on investment. The Joint Commission recognizes those organizations committed to reducing their carbon footprint through our Sustainable Healthcare Certification program. But no matter where you are in your environmental sustainability journey, this page offers best practices, tools, and resources across several domains.

For organizations just beginning their environmental sustainability journey, this resource center provides an on-ramp toward sustained decarbonization. And for those organizations that are well on their way, these resources offer innovative approaches and a chance to highlight your own strategies.

How to Use Resource Collections

For each domain, we pulled actionable strategies and tips that organizations can begin doing now and some that require more long-term commitment. Organizations are not required to do all these strategies, rather they can select and incorporate those that align with their organization priorities and goals. This information was distilled from a variety of sources, with the input of technical advisory panel members and organizations that graciously shared their experiences.

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Strategies, Tools, and Tips

Find valuable guidance and actionable insights to support you on your path to sustainable healthcare.
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Spotlight on Leading Organizations

Learn directly from care organizations that embrace leading practices and innovative strategies to reduce their carbon footprint.
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Cost Savings and ROI Examples

Coming soon! Realized cost savings and returns on investment figures from organizations that have implemented a strong environmental sustainability program.
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Key Resources

Helpful literature, websites, tools, templates, and calculators produced by some of the most trusted names in healthcare.

Important Components for Building an Environmental Sustainability Program

We know there is a lot of information to assist organizations on their environmental sustainability journey. We have curated and distilled many of these resources, strategies tools and best practices around an easy-to-use and accessible framework. This collection has basic information on how to get started, as well as innovation solutions for those for organizations that have already taken steps to improve their environmental footprint.

For those interested in more advanced topics, e.g., decreasing the carbon footprint of your supply chain (scope 3 emissions), we recommend that you visit The National Academy of Medicine's Sustainability Journey Map.

Leadership and Oversight Assessment, Measurement & Improvement Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategies
This resource center is not intended to serve as an exhaustive or exclusive repository of publicly available resources related to environmental sustainability in health care. Nor does it offer any endorsement of the source nor of any particular product, health care organization, or service, nor should it be construed as a statement that the source, health care organization, or its products or services, are superior to those of other companies. These resources were not developed or validated by The Joint Commission. Approaches utilized by organizations spotlighted in this resource center are not inclusive of all organizational approaches that may be successful in addressing carbon emissions, and strategies may need to be tailored by organizations to meet the unique needs of their setting and patient population. By accessing and using website resources, website users agree to make no claim of any kind against The Joint Commission for any and all damages that result from use or implementation of any website content.