Environmental sustainability
SMHS is committed to driving opportunities to reduce its environmental footprint and promote environmentally sustainable work practices.
In April 2019 SMHS endorsed its Environmental Sustainability Framework (PDF 133KB), in line with its strategic priorities and supporting recommendation 5 of the Western Australian Government’s Sustainable Health Review:
'Reduce the health system’s environmental footprint and ensure mitigation and adaptation strategies are in place to respond to the health impacts and risks of climate change. Set ongoing targets and measures aligned with established national and international goals.'
The framework is based on the ‘comprehensive framework of 10 interconnected goals for the health sector to address and promote greater sustainability and environmental health’ as per the Global Green and Healthy Hospitals (GGHH) Agenda (external site).
SMHS became a member of the GGHH Network in May 2019. This membership is global recognition of SMHS’ commitment to reduce the environmental impacts contributed by the healthcare sector, aligns SMHS with best practice approaches in environmental sustainability and provides access to resources and communication platforms going forward.
Watch this video to learn about our environmental sustainability commitment and initiatives already underway across SMHS.
Recent sustainability initiatives
Since the introduction of its Environmental Sustainability Framework, SMHS has appointed a dedicated Sustainability Officer and site special interest groups have been established to bring together teams of enthusiastic staff to focus on identifying opportunities for change.
Some of our initiatives include:
- SMHS Contract Management coordinated the substitution of 20 mL plastic medication cups to 30 mL recyclable paper medication cups, achieving cost savings and contributing to reducing disposable plastics policy requirements and sustainable procurement practices.
- Hand towels used within FSH operating theatres – known as huck towels – no longer go to landfill thanks to an exciting project with ParaQuad Industries. The blue and white linen towels used by theatre staff to dry their hands before operating are collected and given to ParaQuad to sell as part of its recycling and reuse activities.
- Fremantle Hospital has recently joined the Containers for Change program, which will contribute to our overall efforts to divert plastic and glass from landfill.
- New recycling streams are being introduced across our sites, including PVC, diathermy pen, syringe, and food organics recycling at Fremantle Hospital.