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Sustainable health: This is how new projects save our future!
The article highlights how sustainability in healthcare can reduce costs, reduce disease and protect the environment.
Sustainable health: This is how new projects save our future!
The discussion about sustainability and climate protection is becoming increasingly important, especially in the healthcare sector. According to a report by the reporter It is essential that the sector takes measures to reduce the climate impact caused by, among other things, disposable medical products. In order to promote progress in healthcare, the Barmers, the “Healthy Earth – Healthy People” foundation run by Dr. Eckart von Hirschhausen and the German Sustainability Prize Foundation initiated the “German Sustainability Prize for Health”.
This award honors projects that help promote a healthy future and enable everyday improvements. On November 29th, the winners were announced in three categories:
Winner of the German Sustainability Prize for Health
- Gesundheit stärken: Krisenchat.de wurde im Mai 2020 gegründet und bietet jungen Menschen unter 25 Jahren anonyme Hilfe an. Über 350 psychologisch ausgebildete Krisenberater haben bereits 130.000 Beratungen durchgeführt.
- Versorgung gestalten: Die AOK Baden-Württemberg und das IWW Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institut für Wasserforschung führten eine Studie zur nachhaltigen Antibiotikaversorgung durch, um umweltgerechte Herstellungsanreize zu setzen.
- Umwelt schützen: Das Projekt „Klimafreundlich pflegen“ der Arbeiterwohlfahrt (AWO) hat sich das Ziel gesetzt, bis 2040 klimaneutral zu werden. Es beinhaltet Strategien zur Energieeffizienz in Pflegeeinrichtungen.
However, the healthcare sector faces challenges related to its environmental impact. As in another post by DGQ highlighted, healthcare accounts for 4.4% of global net emissions, equivalent to 2 gigatons of CO2 equivalent per year. The sector is also responsible for 5% of total raw material consumption in Germany, with medical products and their supply chains accounting for 71% of healthcare emissions.
To reduce climate impact, climate managers are increasingly sought after and the need to develop a national strategy for climate-smart healthcare by 2030 is emphasized. The German Medical Association has already identified ten areas of action, including energy consumption, waste management and the purchasing of products. Nevertheless, all measures must ensure that medical standards are not jeopardized.