Environmental Sustainability
UW Medicine's commitment to sustainability
Our commitment
At UW Medicine, we understand that to improve the health of the public, we must also improve the health of the environment.
UW Medicine recognizes the impact climate change has on the health of the communities we serve. With our clinical, research and teaching missions, UW Medicine is uniquely positioned to deliver transformational care and train future generations of healthcare providers how to recognize and treat populations exposed to environmental threats such as heat, smoke, flooding, poor water quality and other extreme weather events.
UW Medicine must remain resilient in the face of climate change and mitigate the environmental footprint of our operations through waste reduction and diversion, energy and water conservation, sustainable procurement and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Our commitments will be achieved in collaboration with our faculty, staff, learners, patients, public health experts and the healthcare sector, and will contribute to our health equity goals.
We make this commitment in support of our mission to improve the health of all people.
Recognition and awards
UW Medicine believes that the health of the planet and the health of our community are inextricably linked and that we must work toward creating a more sustainable future. As we work to reduce the environmental impact of our operations, we are proud of our accomplishments in the areas of waste diversion, energy conservation, alternative transportation, healthy food purchasing and green buildings.
2023
- Top 25 Environmental Excellence (Harborview Medical Center)
- Less Waste Circle (Harborview Medical Center)
- Greening the OR Circle (Harborview Medical Center)
- Transportation Circle (Harborview Medical Center)
- Climate Circle (Harborview Medical Center)
- Husky Sustainability Award (Harborview Medical Center)
2022
- Emerald Award (Harborview Medical Center)
- Greening the OR Circle (Harborview Medical Center)
- Transportation Circle (Harborview Medical Center)
- GHX Best 50 Healthcare Providers for Supply Chain Excellence (Harborview Medical Center & UW Medical Center)
2021
- Environmental Excellence Award (Harborview Medical Center)
- Becker's Hospital Review Top 15 Hospital Systems for Eliminating Waste (UW Medicine)
- Stryker Sustainability Solutions Healthy Hospital Platinum Award (UW Medical Center)
- GHX Best 50 Healthcare Providers for Supply Chain Excellence (Harborview Medical Center & UW Medical Center)
2020
- Environmental Excellence Award (Harborview Medical Center)
- Less Waste Circle (Harborview Medical Center)
- Greening the OR Circle (Harborview Medical Center)
- Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Circle (Harborview Medical Center)
- Energy Circle (Harborview Medical Center)
- Climate Circle (Harborview Medical Center)
- Emerald Award (UW Medical Center)
- Greening the OR (UW Medical Center)
- GHX Best 50 Healthcare Providers for Supply Chain Excellence (Harborview Medical Center & UW Medical Center)
2019
- Top 25 Environmental Excellence (Harborview Medical Center)
- Top 25 Environmental Excellence (UW Medical Center)
- Leadership Circle (UW Medical Center)
- Less Waste Circle (Harborview Medical Center)
- Greening the OR Circle (Harborview Medical Center)
- Food Circle (UW Medical Center)
- Energy Circle (Harborview Medical Center)
- Greening the OR (UW Medical Center)
- Partner Recognition Award (Valley Medical Center)
- Becker's Hospital Review Top 15 Hospital Systems for Eliminating Waste (UW Medicine)
- Stryker Sustainability Solutions Healthy Hospital Platinum Award (UW Medical Center)
- GHX Best 50 Healthcare Providers for Supply Chain Excellence (Harborview Medical Center & UW Medical Center)
2018
- Top 25 Environmental Excellence (Harborview Medical Center)
- Top 25 Environmental Excellence (UW Medical Center)
- Less Waste Circle (Harborview Medical Center)
- Healthy Food Circle (Harborview Medical Center)
- Green Building Circle (UW Medical Center)
- Greening the OR (Harborview Medical Center)
- Greening the OR (UW Medical Center)
- Becker's Hospital Review 68 of the greenest hospitals in America (Harborview Medical Center & UW Medical Center)
2017
- Top 25 Environmental Excellence (Harborview Medical Center)
- Top 25 Environmental Excellence (UW Medical Center)
- Less Waste Circle (Harborview Medical Center)
- Green the OR Circle (Harborview Medical Center)
- Healthy Food Circle (Harborview Medical Center)
- Healthy Food Circle (UW Medical Center)
- Climate Circle (Harborview Medical Center)
- Climate Circle (UW Medical Center)
- Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Circle (Harborview Medical Center)
- Green Building Circle (Harborview Medical Center)
- Greening the OR (UW Medical Center
- Becker's Hospital Review 60 of the greenest hospitals in America (Harborview Medical Center & UW Medical Center)
2016
- Top 25 Environmental Excellence (Harborview Medical Center)
- Top 25 Environmental Excellence (UW Medical Center)
- Less Waste Circle (Harborview Medical Center)
- Green the OR Circle (Harborview Medical Center)
- Healthy Food Circle (UW Medical Center)
- Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Circle (Harborview Medical Center)
- Becker's Hospital Review 50 of the Greenest Hospitals in America Harborview Medical Center & UW Medical Center)
2015
- Top 25 Environmental Excellent (UW Medical Center)
- Healthy Food Circle of Excellence (UW Medical Center)
- Chemicals Circle of Excellence (UW Medical Center)
- Green Building Circle of Excellence (UW Medical Center)
- Becker's Hospital Review 50 of the Greenest Hospitals in America 2015 (Harborview Medical Center & UW Medical Center)
2014
- Top 25 Environmental Excellent (UW Medical Center)
- Water Circle of Excellence (UW Medical Center)
- Green Building Circle of Excellence (UW Medical Center)
2013
- Environmental Leadership Circle of Excellence (Harborview Medical Center)
- Environmental Leadership Circle of Excellence (UW Medical Center)
- Healthy Food in Health (HFHC) Awards
- Sustainable Food Procurement Award, Food & Climate Health Connection Award (UW Medical Center)
- Green Building Circle of Excellence (UW Medical Center)
2012
- Environmental Leadership Circle Award (UW Medical Center)
- Partner for Change with Distinction (Harborview Medical Center)
- Recycler of the Year Award (Harborview Medical Center)
2011
- Environmental Leadership Circle Awards (UW Medical Center)
- Greening the OR Circle of Excellence (HMC)
- Healthy Food Circle of Excellence (UW Medical Center)
- Chemicals Circle of Excellence (UW Medical Center)
- Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Circle (UW Medical Center)
- Partner for Change (Harborview Medical Center)
2010
- Environmental Leadership Circle Awards (UW Medical Center)
- Partner for Change (Harborview Medical Center)
2009
- Environmental Leadership Circle Awards (UW Medical Center)
2008
- Environmental Leadership Circle Awards (UW Medical Center)
2007
- Hospital for a Healthy Environment H2E - Environmental Leadership Award (UW Medical Center)
- Making Medicine Mercury Free Award (UW Medical Center)
2005
- Washington State Governor's Award for Pollution Prevention and Sustainable Practices (UW Medical Center)
Additional resources
University of Washington and School of Medicine resources
- Sustainability at the University of Washington
- State of Washington's Center for Health and the Global Environment