The Green Healthcare Award

This award is open to any healthcare facility, of any size, public, voluntary or private, that can demonstrate a comprehensive programme to minimise the environmental impact of its services while optimising outcomes for patients. You must explain what you have achieved so far, particularly over the last 12 months, and what you hope to achieve in the future. And we need to see evidence of an overall strategy that sets out your targets and how you plan to achieve them and hard statistics demonstrating year-on-year comparisons Entry is by a 5-page A4 PDF submission; the judges will be looking for a clear plan and evidence that it is delivering on core objectives, paying particular attention to the criteria listed below.

• Background: Provide an overview of your sustainability strategy, including its development, objectives, and how it supports minimising environmental impact while optimizing patient outcomes.
• Targets: Outline the green targets you have set (e.g., energy, water, waste management) and how these targets were implemented across your facility. Include any specific goals related to environmental preservation or other green initiatives.
• Organisation Commitment: Describe how you have integrated sustainability into your organisation, including staff training, communication, and senior management support. Highlight how sustainability is embedded in your culture.
• Outcomes & Results: Detail the practical benefits and measurable outcomes of your green initiatives. Provide year-on-year comparisons, including any external validations, accreditations, or certifications received. Show evidence of progress with relevant statistics.
• Future Sustainability Goals: Describe your future sustainability goals and plans. Explain how these goals will enhance your efforts and address any remaining environmental challenges.
• Procuring Green Products & Services: Describe the steps taken to reduce and recycle waste within your organisation.
• Waste Reduction Initiatives: Describe any efforts to engage with “green” suppliers, or to source local, Irish, and sustainable products/materials, to ensure the achievement of your sustainability objectives.
• Green Building Initiatives: Describe any activities your organisation has recently taken to conserve biodiversity, use biological resources sustainably, improve natural habitats.
• Energy efficiency, generation and use of renewables: Describe the steps your organisation has taken to improve energy efficiency and/or water efficiency.
• Sustainable Travel Initiatives: Describe any sustainable transport initiatives your organisation has taken, e.g., to reduce congestion, to green your fleet, or any other any other actions that result in fuel savings, CO2 emission reduction.
• Carbon Reduction: Describe any sustainable transport initiatives your organisation has taken, e.g., to reduce congestion, to green your fleet, or any other any other actions that result in fuel savings, CO2 emission reduction.
• Water Resource Efficiency: Describe the steps your organisation has taken to improve energy efficiency and/or water efficiency.
• Implementing a green healthcare business case: Outline the environmental impact of your internal policies and any accreditation you have received to date.