Sustainable healthcare starts with understanding your impact

Healthcare organizations are under increasing pressure to demonstrate sustainability. We help you make the transition from isolated initiatives to a clear strategy, reliable data, and reporting that works.
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The dual challenge facing the healthcare sector

The healthcare sector faces a major challenge: continuing to provide quality care while simultaneously reducing its climate and environmental impact. This is no longer a niche issue. Executives and sustainability coordinators are grappling with obligations under the Green Deal for Sustainable Healthcare, stricter real estate requirements, and increasing pressure from health insurers and purchasers.

In practice, we see initiatives emerging throughout the organization, but coordination, ownership, and coherence can be lacking. Data on energy, waste, and procurement is scattered. Progress is difficult to demonstrate. And the requirements are becoming stricter.

Whether it’s a hospital looking to make its operating rooms more sustainable, a long-term care organization seeking to manage mobility and procurement, or an organization preparing for the Healthcare Environmental Thermometer: the core issue is always the same. Sustainability must become part of day-to-day management, not just the annual report.

Cooperate Green helps healthcare institutions structure their sustainability efforts, from baseline assessments and strategy to reporting and certification.

What we see a lot in the industry

Lack of accountability

Initiatives are underway throughout the organization, but there is no centralized system for coordination, KPIs, and accountability. It is difficult to substantiate results to the board or regulators.

A transportation company invests in more sustainable fuels or electric vehicles, but finds that customers are not willing to fully cover the higher costs. Due to the low profit margins in the transportation sector, this is often not financially attractive enough.

Fragmented Data

Energy, waste, procurement, and CO₂ data are scattered across departments and systems. There is no comprehensive overview, which makes reporting time-consuming and prone to errors.
A logistics service provider wants to set up a charging hub for electric trucks but is told that upgrading the power grid won’t be possible for several years. Sustainability plans are delayed, investments are postponed, and companies miss opportunities to lead the way in the energy transition.

Complexity of Healthcare Real Estate

Energy-intensive functions such as operating rooms and intensive care units operate continuously. Sustainability efforts are technically complex and must be balanced with patient safety and day-to-day operations.

Circular Healthcare in Practice

Safety and hygiene requirements lead to a high reliance on disposable materials. Adopting a circular approach is ambitious but conflicts with existing protocols, time constraints, and limited alternatives.

Where Cooperate Green Makes a Difference

Management control and direction

From isolated initiatives to a clear strategy, policy, and measurable goals.

Reduced risk of non-compliance

Strategy, implementation, and evidence are aligned.

More Efficient Reporting

All sustainability data in a single overview—manageable and consistent.

Stronger stakeholder engagement

Make progress visible to regulators, purchasers, and patients.
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Relevant legislation for healthcare organizations

Green Deal for Sustainable Healthcare 3.0

Industry-wide agreement for 2023–2026. Goals: 30% reduction in CO₂ emissions by 2026, 25% reduction in residual waste, and climate neutrality by 2050. Requires a strategy, implementation, and reporting.

Healthcare Environmental Thermometer

Starting in 2027, a requirement imposed on healthcare providers by health insurers and healthcare administration offices. Starting in 2028, only certified institutions will be permitted. Levels: bronze, silver, and gold.

Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD)

Gradual transition to sustainability for healthcare real estate. Starting in 2026, requirements regarding building automation and monitoring for energy-intensive buildings.

Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)

Mandatory ESG reporting for large organizations. This has a ripple effect throughout the supply chain: suppliers and smaller partners are also being asked about their sustainability performance by, for example, healthcare purchasers or financiers. This applies not only to environmental issues but also to social and governance topics such as labor shortages and cybersecurity. This requires reliable data and structural integration.
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What’s happening in the sector

Social sustainability

Workload, staffing shortages, and absenteeism. Expectations for social accountability are also on the rise.
A transportation company receives enough orders but cannot complete all trips due to a shortage of drivers. As a result, orders must be outsourced or even turned down.

Energy consumption and CO₂

Energy-intensive real estate and continuous-operation facilities. Making them more sustainable requires both insight and strategy.

A transportation company is investigating whether electric trucks are economically viable for regional distribution and what charging solutions are required for this.

Circularity

High reliance on single-use materials. Circular economy goals require alignment between policy, implementation, and monitoring.
A logistics service provider has been asked by a major client to provide transparency regarding CO₂ emissions for each transport trip. Without reliable data, it will be difficult to meet the client’s request.

Sustainable Procurement

A significant portion of the impact lies within the supply chain. Integrating supply chain impact into reporting and policy makes procurement structurally more sustainable.
A logistics service provider is asked by a major client to provide insight into CO₂ emissions for each transport operation. Without reliable data, it will be difficult to meet the client’s request.

How We Work Together

Our approach is tailored to the specific situation of housing cooperatives—from an initial assessment to a fully developed, comprehensive ESG report.
Step 1

Where do you stand?

Baseline assessment, stakeholder analysis, and overview of current performance and obligations.
Step 2

Where do you want to go?

A clear direction, priorities, and a feasible roadmap tailored to your healthcare organization.
Step 3

From plan to practice

Support with implementation, ownership, and integration into daily practice.

Step 4

Demonstrate and Comply

Collecting data, preparing reports, and providing guidance toward certification, such as the Milieuthermometer Zorg.