LHSC recognized with London Chamber of Commerce Environmental Leadership Award

The London Chamber of Commerce has awarded London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) the 2023 Business Achievement Award in the Environmental Leadership category.??

This honour underscores LHSC's strong commitment to forging a sustainable future through groundbreaking and influential environmental practices.?

Since the early 2000s, LHSC has been on a mission to create a healthier future, placing planetary health at the forefront of all its endeavours.??

“When it comes to sustainability, the public sector is not often considered but there is so much we can do,” said Dipesh Patel, Capital Redevelopment and Environmental Operations Executive.

“The fact is that our critical operations have an environmental impact – one that we must always be thinking of and working to improve. Together, we can – and are – making a big impact.” — Patel

LHSC's environmental leadership takes a holistic approach to understanding and mitigating the hospital's environmental impact. This recognition serves not only as a platform to showcase and share our best practices but also as an inspiration for others to join the movement towards a more sustainable future.?

A few of the impactful sustainability practices taking place at LHSC include:?

Waste Diversion Programs?

LHSC has a responsibility for protecting public health and the environment. The handling and disposal of various waste streams are paramount to this work.?

Environmental Specialists at LHSC like John Vecchio are champions of sustainability and manage a range of waste streams including:?

• General waste?
• Recycling?
• Organics?
• Confidential?
• Chemical?

• Biomedical?

Program impact:?

In 2022, the Waste Diversion Program diverted 34 per cent of waste from going to landfills, avoiding the emissions of greenhouse gases like methane and carbon dioxide.?

Organics Recycling Program?

The Organics Recycling Program is another example of LHSC’s pivotal initiatives that the Patient Food Services Team works to sustain. Together, the team maintains a successful De-Pack Program by working to sort all returned patient food trays to ensure that we recycle and divert as much food waste as possible from landfills.?

“My team is very passionate about their commitment to environmental sustainability and works to ensure that we minimize our environmental footprint while providing exceptional patient care." — Emily Hahn-Trnka, Patient Food Services Manager, LHSC

Program impact:??

What started as a modest initiative has now expanded to encompass various retail spaces, including:?

• Victoria Hospital cafeteria?
• University Hospital cafeteria?
• 54 Riverview Ave., one of LHSC's off-campus locations??

This program has led to the diversion of over 358 tons of organic waste from landfills in 2022 and has generated nearly 160 megawatt-hours of electricity, enough to power 15 homes for one year.?

Community engagement?

Engagement with our staff and the public is a continually growing part of LHSC’s environmental initiatives. LHSC’s Green Team brings staff from across many disciplines to make LHSC practices more environmentally friendly. Current and planned projects include:?

• Indigenous Healing Garden?
• Mental Health Gardens?
• Metered dose inhalers?

• Bike tune-up clinic?
• Westminster ponds clean-ups?
• Tree planting?

Sustainability doesn’t stop here?

Looking to the future, #TeamLHSC is committed to further advancing our sustainability efforts.?

“We are so proud of our teams and their hard work that has led to this recognition from the London Chamber of Commerce,” said Jackie Schleifer Taylor, President and CEO, LHSC. “And we know there is more to do.”??

“As we reimagine the future of health care and redesign how our facilities may look over the next 30 years, planetary health is a pinnacle of our planning. All decisions are being made with sustainability at the forefront.” – Schleifer Taylor