Environmental Stewardship Progress, Plans & Reports

Progress

Providence has bold aspirations to reduce the harm from climate change. With more than 120,000 caregivers across seven states, our services impact millions of lives. Our goal to work toward carbon negative by 2030 and reduce our waste consumption by 50% can only be achieved through an all-hands-on-deck approach encompassing our shared values of compassion, excellence, dignity, justice and integrity.

Across the health system we are making meaningful changes resulting in significant progress. We have created an Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) program that seeks to reduce environmental impacts generated through our supply chain by making purchasing decisions which align with our goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, waste and minimize chemicals of concern.

Following our WE ACT framework; we see exciting progress:

  • Waste - Several are already meeting our 2030 50% waste reduction goal.
  • Energy and water - Our focus on Energy shows progress with 89 Providence facilities are powered with 100% renewable electricity.
  • Agriculture and food - We have several gardens, CSA programs, and a prescription produce program offering fresh local produce to people with chronic health issues. 30 of our hospitals are participating in The Cool Food Pledge to reduce the carbon intensity of meals served.
  • Chemicals - We have reduced greenhouse gases from anesthetic agents by 69% and 96% of computer purchases meet EPEAT standards.
  • Transportation - We have sustained a 69% reduction in business trips compared to 2019.
  • Total Carbon Emissions – Providence has reduced total emissions (greenhouse gases) from our hospitals by over 13% since 2019.

Read more by state

  • Alaska Medical Center
    In Anchorage, Alaska, Providence Alaska Medical Center reprogrammed its central building automation system to reflect occupancy, which increased building energy efficiency and reduced emissions.
  • Reducing food waste
    in Anchorage, Alaska, Providence Alaska Medical Center reduces food waste through use of reusable Ozzi containers.

  • Tarzana Medical Center
    Providence Tarzana Medical Center in Los Angeles, California selected sustainable materials when designing and building its new patient wing.
  • Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital
    Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital reduces waste in the cafeteria and partners Sonoma Food Runners to donate safe, edible, excess food to neighborhood food banks and local shelters.

  • Oregon region anesthetics
    Across the Oregon region, Dr. Brian Chesebro led efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 95 percent by switching to a lower-emission, lower-cost, alternative anesthetic, that delivers quality clinical outcomes.
  • Oregon green cleaning
    Across the Oregon region, “green cleaning” has been adopted by selecting a green formulary that includes water based chemicals, effective and safe even among the most vulnerable.
  • Providence Milwaukie Hospital
    In Milwaukie, Oregon, Providence Milwaukie volunteers tend to a garden that feeds the most vulnerable in the community.

  • Commuter support at Providence St. Patrick Hospital
    At St. Patrick Hospital, caregiver commuter support offers convenient bike parking and on-site fix-it stations.
  • Providence St. Patrick Hospital has earned recognition as Top 25 most sustainable hospitals in the nation from Practice Greenhealth.

  • As of March 2024, all Texas sites are powered by 100% renewable electricity.
  • Covenant Medical Center
    In Lubbock, Texas, Covenant Medical Center selected high efficiency equipment during a central plant renovation.
  • Covenant Children's Hospital
    In Lubbock, Texas, anesthesiologists at Covenant Children’s reduced greenhouse gas emissions associated with administration of anesthetics by 58%.

  • Centralia Hospital installed the largest solar array on a hospital in state history.
  • Providence St. Peter Hospital
    In southwest Washington, Providence St. Peter Hospital has been powered by 100% renewable electricity since March 2021.
  • Swedish Issaquah
    In Issaquah, Washington, Swedish Issaquah was named the most energy-efficient hospital in the U.S.

Plans & Reports

“We strive with prophetic zeal to eliminate injustice and the causes of suffering in the family of humankind and to work for sustainability of our earth community.” - Providence Sponsors, 2011

Providence is dedicated to progressing the work of Environmental Stewardship in Healthcare. Part of that work is communicating our challenges and successes so that others can learn alongside us.

Please browse through our archived reports and plans: