Healthcare sustainability award winners report $235 million in annual savings

Practice Greenhealth, an organization promoting sustainable healthcare across the U.S. and Canada, recently announced the recipients of its 2026 Environmental Excellence Awards.

The awards recognize healthcare organizations demonstrating leadership in sustainability, environmental stewardship, and climate resilience.

Award recipients reported about $235 million in combined savings from environmental programs in 2025.

Practice Greenhealth recognized 430 healthcare organizations with 538 awards across 11 areas of sustainability. Projects that focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions generated median annual savings of more than $77,000 per organization.

Pharmaceutical stewardship initiatives generated median annual savings of more than $75,000 per organization, while organizations working to reduce plastic use reported median annual savings of $61,000.

Medical device reprocessing and energy efficiency projects each generated median annual savings of about $48,000 per organization.

Nearly all award recipients (99%) reported having an executive sponsor for sustainability initiatives and a dedicated sustainability professional at the hospital or health system level.