ChristianaCare Team wins Environmental Excellence Gold Award

For reducing the environmental impact of medical waste through innovative care practices, ChristianaCare has received an Environmental Excellence Gold Award from medical technology company Stryker.

The award recognizes ChristianaCare for its exceptional sustainability performance in 2023, based on key metrics such as waste separation, collection growth and buyback rate.

In 2023, ChristianaCare’s sustainability initiatives diverted 6,600 pounds of medical waste from landfills, saving $1,158,658.

‘Reprocessing’ means second life for medical equipment

A step in environmental management is ‘reprocessing’. This enables safe reuse of medical devices. It includes cleaning, disinfection, sterilization and related procedures, as well as testing and restoring the technical and functional safety of the used device.

The most common reprocessed items throughout the system are:

• Compression boot covers
• Disposable pulse oximeters
• ECG leads
• Disposable fall alarms.

Common reprocessing items from the operating rooms and cardiovascular interventional services:

• Laparoscopic vessel sealer and dissector
• Suture thread compasses
• tourniquets
• Cables.

ChristianaCare’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond waste reduction. Earlier this year, the health system launched a medical donation program. It’s led by Deanna Benner, MSN, APRN, WHNP, a women’s health nurse practitioner and co-chair of ChristianaCare’s Environmental Sustainability Caregiver Committee; nurse professional development specialist Ashley Oncay, RN; and operating room nurse Pamela Ramagano, RN.

Through the program, ChristianaCare has donated more than 680 pounds of medical supplies, worth nearly $50,000. The initiative repurposes expired supplies as educational resources, further extending their lifespan.

“One surgery produces as much waste as a family of four produces in a week,” Oncay said. “With our program, we want to minimize our environmental footprint while continuing to provide excellent care to our patients.”

ChristianaCare’s Commitment to Healthy Environments and Healthy People

In 2022, ChristianaCare joined the White House Climate Pledge to use 100% renewable energy by 2025, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030, and achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Looking ahead, ChristianaCare remains committed to advancing its sustainability initiatives, supported by volunteers and staff.

As one of the nation’s leading health systems, ChristianaCare takes a bold, comprehensive approach to environmental stewardship.

ChristianaCare has reduced its carbon footprint by 37% in 2023 by purchasing zero-emission electricity.

ChristianaCare has joined the White House Climate Pledge to use 100% renewable energy by 2025, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030, and achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

ChristianaCare has established an environmental, social and governance structure to help realize a five-year strategic plan that delivers health equity and environmental stewardship.

Nearly 150 employees have become Eco-Champions, an opportunity to become leaders in environmental change in the workplace.

In 2023, ChristianaCare’s successful environmental management included:

• By purchasing emission-free electricity, we reduce our CO2 footprint by 37%.
• 42,000 kilos of paper were recycled, saving 11,485 trees.
• Reducing air pollution by eliminating an estimated 33,000 pounds of nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides through the operation of a cogeneration plant on the Newark campus.
• Donation of 35,000 pounds of unused food to the Sunday Breakfast Mission in Wilmington, Delaware.
• Donation of £1,575 of unused medical equipment to Project CURE, ChristianaCare’s Virtual Education and Simulation Training Center and Delaware Technical Community College.

Click here for more information about ChristianaCare’s commitment to sustainability and community.