Healthcare sustainability refers to practices that reduce the environmental, social, and financial impact of delivering care. This includes lowering greenhouse gas emissions, cutting waste, and minimizing pollutants generated in clinical and hospital settings. The U.S. healthcare sector contributes about 8.5 percent of national greenhouse gas emissions, with hospitals responsible for more than a third of that burden. These emissions and the associated air pollution cause measurable health harms, including an estimated 388,000 disability-adjusted life years lost annually in the United States. Sustainability means providing high-quality care while reducing harm to people and the planet.

Healthcare emissions are grouped into three categories. Scope 1 includes direct emissions from healthcare facilities, such as fuel combustion in boilers and anesthetic gases used in operating rooms. Scope 2 refers to indirect emissions from purchased energy such as electricity. Scope 3 includes all other indirect emissions across the supply chain, such as those from pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, waste disposal, and employee commuting.. Multiple analyses confirm that Scope 3 represents the majority of the healthcare carbon footprint, with pharmaceuticals and medical devices being the most significant contributors.

Healthcare exists to improve health, yet it also contributes to climate change, pollution, and waste that worsen public health outcomes. Rising emissions drive respiratory illness, cardiovascular risk, food and water insecurity, and heat-related disease. Chemical pollutants and medical waste can harm local communities and ecosystems. Financially, wasteful practices increase costs and strain health systems. Prioritizing sustainability helps healthcare fulfill its mission of protecting patients while reducing harm to the environment and supporting healthier communities.