Environmental Sustainability Initiatives
Our Sustainability Initiatives
At Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), we believe environmental responsibility plays an integral role in our mission to provide extraordinary care where the patient comes first.
We meet all applicable environmental laws, regulations and environmental commitments through employee engagement, community partnerships and innovative solutions. We strive to continually improve upon our sustainability by balancing economic viability with environmental responsibility.
Mission, Vision & Goals
Our Mission
To build a healthy future for ourselves, our patients and their families.
Our Vision
Sustainability — meeting the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations — is about moving towards a broader societal transformation focused on community resilience, environmental health and justice.
We foster a culture of sustainability through:
- Energy and water conservation programs
- Proper waste management
- Responsible procurement of surgical and medical supplies
- Local and sustainable foods
- Alternative community programs for employees
- Climate resilience infrastructure
Our Goals
Our goals are reflective of industry leaders, legislation from the City of Boston and the State of Massachusetts, recommendations through our partnerships with Healthcare without Harm and Practice Greenhealth, and necessary enhancements to ensure we achieve our mission and vision.
- Climate: Reduce organizational emissions* by 50% by 2030 (from a baseline of 2016) and achieve net-zero by 2050.
- Engagement: Achieve a 90% employee familiarity and 5% employee leadership in our sustainability efforts and goals by 2025
- Food: Reduce food purchasing emissions by 25% by 2030 (Cool Food Pledge).
- Resilience: Develop and release a climate resilience plan for continuous operations, anticipating the needs of groups in our community that experience disproportionate risk of climate-related harm.
- Waste: Achieve Zero Waste* by 2030
*Over 80% of non-hazardous solid waste diverted from landfill or incineration through reduction, reuse, recycling, compost or use of future technologies - Water: Maintain water use intensity reduction of 12% from baseline year of 2011.
We are a member of the following:
- Practice Greenhealth
- Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council Advisory Board
- Commitments: We are Still In & America’s All In Pledges, Department of Health & Human Services Climate Pledge
Climate and Human Health Fellowship
The Climate and Human Health Fellowship trains physicians to examine and advance evidence-based policies that help build climate-resilient communities and health systems.
BIDMC’s 25-Year Sustainability Journey
Recognition
In recent years, we have been recognized locally and nationally for our green efforts.
The League of American Bicyclists is pleased to see your commitment to promote a bicycle-friendly environment for employees, guests and the community. BIDMC is at the forefront of a movement to make American workplaces more competitive, sustainable and attractive to the best and brightest employees.
A bicycle-friendly business:
- Supports local, state and national bike advocacy
- Offers classes on bicycle safety and maintenance
- Shares bicycling information and resources with employees and guests
- Tracks data related to bicycling
- Has dedicated staff focused on bicycle-friendly improvements
- Sets measurable goals to reduce barriers and increase bicycling rates
We received a Silver recognition in 2025.
In 2020 and 2021, BIDMC was recognized as a Healthcare without Harm Climate Challenge Champion in the following categories:
- Gold – Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Energy)
- Gold – Renewable Energy
- Silver – Climate Resilience
- Silver – Climate Leadership
This recognition acknowledges our commitment to reducing health care’s carbon footprint, while preparing for the impacts of extreme weather, as well as our dedication to promoting policies that protect public health from climate change while providing relevant education for staff and the public.
These awards speak to our contribution to the global community of health care institutions bringing climate-smart transformation to the industry.
EPA Food Recovery Challenge Award
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regional offices across the country recognize Food Recovery Challenge participants and endorsers for outstanding accomplishments in preventing and diverting wasted food. In 2016 and 2020, BIDMC was recognized with the EPA Food Recovery Challenge Award.
EPA National WasteWise Award
In 2020, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized BIDMC for the best overall improvement in waste prevention and diversion activities when compared to the previous year; demonstrating innovative practices and tailored efforts to help prevent and reduce waste from going into landfills and incinerators.
We were also recognized with the EPA's:
- WasteWise National Data Award, Non-profit Organization in 2020
- Green Innovator Award in 2020
- WasteWise National Narrative Award, Non-profit Organization Category in 2021
Emerald Award
Practice Greenhealth's Emerald Award recognizes the top 20% of the highest-scoring applicants that are setting the standard in reducing waste, addressing chemicals of concern, tackling sustainable procurement and achieving significant successes in a range of other programmatic areas. Winning hospitals have demonstrated a strong commitment to sustainability and shown leadership in the local community and in the healthcare sector.
BIDMC was recognized with the Emerald Award in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Circle of Excellence
The Circles of Excellence from Practice Greenhealth recognizes up to 10 of the highest performing hospitals for each individual category of environmental performance.
Climate Award
The Climate category highlights visionary hospitals taking the lead on tracking and measuring carbon emissions and developing overall climate programs. Winning hospitals demonstrate an understanding of the health impacts of climate change and are acting to mitigate those impacts and educate their staff and communities on playing a supporting role.
BIDMC received the Climate Award in 2020 and 2024.
Food Award
The Food Circle highlights leaders in sustainable food services, capturing leadership in meat reduction, procurement of better meat, local and sustainable sourcing, improving access to tap water and healthy beverages, supporting healthy food access, and preventing food waste. Top contenders have strong policies, and have an educational strategy that addresses the food system as a critical component in an overall sustainability plan — for human and planetary health.
BIDMC received the Food Award in 2023.
Leadership Award
The Leadership category honors hospitals demonstrating excellence in supporting a long-term commitment to healthier environments through a committee structure, reporting, data tracking, communication and education.
BIDMC received the Leadership Award in 2022.
Waste Award
The Waste category honors hospitals that have excelled in waste prevention and material handling, as demonstrated through high recycling rates, low regulated medical waste generation and low rates of total waste generated per patient day. Winners of the Waste Circle are addressing all facets of the complex health care waste stream.
BIDMC received the Waste Award in 2022.
Greening the OR Award
The Greening the OR category honors hospitals for leadership in implementation and innovation in the surgical department. Winners have demonstrated innovative approaches to waste minimization, energy conservation and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from anesthesia, sustainable procurement and clinician leadership.
BIDMC received the Greening the OR Award in 2017, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Green Building Award
The Green Building category is presented to hospitals that have demonstrated LEED and other green building achievements over the past five years. These hospitals emphasize policies that show a commitment to or even require LEED-level construction standards for all major new builds or renovations. Their achievements include energy and water efficiency, safer materials, regional sourcing, integration of nature and other mechanisms to create high-performance healing environments.
BIDMC received the Green Building Award in 2022.
Top 25 Award
The Top 25 Environmental Excellence Awards is Practice Greenhealth’s highest honor for hospitals. Selected from the pool of Partner for Change applicants, these hospitals are leading the industry in all-around sustainability performance, demonstrating comprehensive programs and are illustrating how sustainability is entrenched in their organizational culture. Each year, the competition for these top spots increases, as hospitals across the country continue to innovate.
BIDMC was recognized with the Top 25 Award in 2023 and 2024.
