The National University Hospital (NUH) in Singapore has become the first hospital worldwide to receive the Healthcare Sustainability Certification, an international recognition jointly awarded by the Joint Commission International (JCI) and the Geneva Sustainability Centre of the International Hospital Federation (IHF). This milestone, announced during NUH’s Green Day 2025, underscores a growing global commitment to embedding sustainability into healthcare. The certification was granted following an in-depth evaluation using the Geneva Sustainability Centre’s Sustainability Accelerator Tool (SAT), which measures organisational progress in environmental responsibility, health equity and governance.
Global Recognition for a Regional Pioneer
NUH’s certification represents not only a first for Singapore but a global precedent in the healthcare sector. The recognition by JCI and the Geneva Sustainability Centre reflects NUH’s leadership in integrating sustainability into its organisational strategy and governance. This assessment process reviewed the hospital’s entire approach to performance evaluation, strategic planning and operational execution through a sustainability lens. The endorsement places NUH at the forefront of sustainable healthcare innovation and serves as an exemplar for institutions across Asia and beyond. It also signifies a successful collaboration between global certifying bodies and regional healthcare systems, offering a structured model for advancing sustainability in clinical settings.
Tangible Progress through Innovation and Action
The hospital’s efforts are rooted in practical, staff-driven initiatives aimed at reducing environmental impact without compromising patient care. NUH’s “plastic-lite” campus movement has dramatically decreased plastic bag use in its pharmacies and offices, preventing hundreds of thousands of bags from entering the waste stream annually. A shift towards more sustainable anaesthetic gases has substantially cut carbon emissions, while energy-saving measures in operating theatres, such as optimising air exchange rates, have led to significant reductions in power consumption. These changes support NUH’s target of net-zero emissions by 2045 and have already produced measurable results: a near 30% reduction in waste and a doubling of recycling rates by 2024 compared to 2020.
Celebrating Workforce-Led Sustainability Initiatives
NUH has also institutionalised sustainability through its “Incredible Care For Our Planet Awards”, which celebrate staff-led projects that deliver both environmental and economic benefits. Among the winning initiatives are an automatic shutdown protocol for outpatient area computers, which saved substantial energy and costs and the repackaging of surgical trays, which reduced emissions and water use. Other innovations include reducing over-prescription of antibiotics, cutting down on disposable equipment use in anaesthesia and transitioning to digital workflows that drastically cut paper consumption. Additional initiatives have targeted energy savings through efficient lighting, greener campus cooling solutions and optimised maintenance schedules. These examples demonstrate a culture of sustainability integrated into every level of hospital operation.
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NUH’s pioneering achievement sets a new standard for healthcare sustainability on the global stage. Through a combination of rigorous governance, strategic planning and grassroots staff engagement, the hospital has demonstrated how the healthcare sector can lead in addressing environmental challenges. Its alignment with the broader National University Health System Green Plan Roadmap highlights the importance of coordinated, long-term planning across healthcare clusters. NUH’s journey affirms that sustainability in healthcare is not merely aspirational—it is actionable, measurable and essential for future resilience.
Source: International Hospital Federation
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