Sustainability Paradox: Why the Most Advanced Hospitals Must Also Be Green
Summary
Hospitals use a lot of energy and materials, causing greenhouse gas emissions despite their mission to protect health. The National University Hospital in Singapore made changes like switching anesthetic gases and reducing antibiotic use that cut emissions, saved money, and improved patient care.Key Facts
- Health care causes about 4-5% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
- In 2025, National University Hospital, Singapore earned the first Healthcare Sustainability Certification.
- Switching from desflurane to sevoflurane and propofol reduced CO2 emissions by 1,900 tons and saved over $577,000 from 2021 to 2023.
- Reducing antibiotic prescriptions in certain surgeries cut prescription rates by 70%, avoided 14,700 kg of CO2 emissions, and kept infection rates below 1%.
- Cutting use of couch paper in low-risk clinics saved 137 rolls monthly and reduced emissions by over 500 kg.
- Introducing recycling bins on nursing trolleys increased paper recycling by 47% and plastic recycling by 230%.
- These sustainability efforts improved hospital safety, patient care, and cost efficiency.
- The hospital treats recycling and sustainability as part of daily work processes, not extra tasks.
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