Environmental sustainability is one of our core values and a shared responsibility across all areas of our organization. Our Sustainability Governance structure provides the foundation for advancing sustainability throughout the health system. Spearheading these efforts is the Center for Sustainable Healthcare, which collaborates with leadership and staff to embed sustainability practices into daily operations and organizational culture. Together, we are building a resilient, environmentally responsible health system for the future.

Project Initiatives

• Upcycled Fashion Initiative

  The Greenwich Hospital Goes Green and Glam Upcycled Project started to take shape during the COVID 19 pandemic, when a creative team of perioperative nurses saw an opportunity to turn waste into something remarkable. Instead of discarding single use instrument wraps made of non woven polypropylene materials and commonly discarded – they transformed them into stylish, wearable garments and practical everyday items.

  Partnering with Waste Free Greenwich, the team presented their creations at the 2024 Rethink Waste Fair, showcasing how healthcare materials can be creatively reused and upcycled. Their innovative work caught widespread attention, with coverage from Connecticut News 12, the Greenwich Times and the Greenwich Free Press. The response from the community was overwhelmingly positive and encouraging.

  The project has since been featured at the 2024 Benefit for Greenwich Hospital and the 2024 Periop Connect AORN Connecticut 0701 Conference, highlighting its impact across both sustainability and healthcare communities.

  This project reflects YNHHS’ ongoing commitment to innovation, environmental stewardship and employee engagement.

• Plant-forward Menu

  A plant‑forward diet — rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and other minimally processed plant foods — has been shown to help reduce the risk of chronic conditions such as heart disease, hypertension, high cholesterol, obesity and diabetes. Plant‑based foods generally use less water, land and energy to produce, making them a more environmentally sustainable choice than animal‑based options.

  As part of strengthening our sustainability culture and integrating environmental values into everyday choices, YNHHS offers plant‑forward entrées that support both personal well‑being and environmental sustainability. These dishes are crafted to deliver balanced nutrition without compromising on flavor.

  One of our most popular options is the southwest burrito, a hearty, fully plant-based entrée. Additional offerings include a plant-based breakfast sausage and a harvest grain bowl, each designed to provide wholesome, satisfying alternatives that align with a healthier, more sustainable way of eating.

• Community Garden

  YNHHS, in partnership with Gather New Haven and UCONN Extension Master Gardeners, supports the Davenport Children’s Community Garden in the Hill neighborhood of New Haven. This vibrant space serves as a hands-on learning lab for science, sustainability, and healthy living, offering virtual and in-person classes for community members and YNHHS employees.

  The garden addresses food insecurity while teaching gardening and environmental stewardship. Planned upgrades include a drip irrigation system for water efficiency, galvanized steel and wooden beds, nutrient-rich soil and compost, and a beehive to boost pollinator populations.

  This initiative reflects YNHHS’ commitment to community health and education by creating a space where children, families and employees can grow together — cultivating resilience, wellness and connection across generations. Together, we’re nurturing more than plants — we’re building a healthier, sustainable community.

YNHHS is committed to building a culture of resource stewardship that minimizes the generation of both clinical and non-clinical waste. We actively support sustainable waste management practices that meet regulatory standards, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and promote environmental responsibility throughout our health system.

Project Initiatives

• Clinical waste – Medical devices reprocessing

  To minimize clinical waste, we partner with suppliers to take back eligible, used single-use medical devices which are reprocessed. This initiative extends the life cycle of medical equipment and reduces emissions from incineration of clinical waste.

• Non-clinical waste – Food donation and food waste composting

  The health system actively works to reduce food waste and improve community food access through ongoing donation programs led by the Food and Nutrition Department. Surplus food that is safe for consumption is donated to local organizations, supporting those in need. Any remaining food that cannot be donated is diverted from landfills and sent to composting facilities, turning waste into a resource

• Non-clinical waste – Municipal and construction waste recycling and energy recovery

  Sustainability isn’t just a goal — it’s a commitment to our community and our planet. We ensure the majority of our non-clinical waste is diverted from landfills through responsible waste management practices such as recycling, materials recovery and energy recovery. This includes single‑stream recycling, cardboard, mixed metals and construction debris. We continually work to reduce contamination and increase recycling rates. Through ongoing improvement and responsible waste management, YNHHS strengthens its mission to protect both human health and the environment.

Our health system is committed to sourcing low-carbon, environmentally preferred clinical and non-clinical products and services while strengthening the resilience and sustainability of our supply chain to support long-term health system performance.

Project Initiative

• YNHHS eliminated the use of desflurane, an inhaled anesthetic that has a disproportionately high global warming impact. YNHHS is proud to be the first health system to eliminate desflurane use and publish about its negative impacts, which led to a national movement.

YNHHS strives to optimize clean energy use, energy-efficient operations and resilient infrastructure across our facilities to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impacts while enhancing system reliability.

Project Initiatives

• Clean energy use

  Purchasing solar power for Westerly Hospital; participating in the clean energy program with the State of Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

• Energy efficiency

  Installing fuel cells for Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, Bridgeport Hospital, Milford Hospital, Park Avenue Medical Center and Greenwich Hospital. Lawrence + Memorial Hospital installed low energy windows (completed 2021) and retrofit light fixtures and lighting infrastructure improvements.

• Sustainable infrastructure

  Yale New Haven Health has incorporated “green building” in recent and current construction and renovation projects to improve energy efficiency, water conservation, air quality and the work environment. There are many sustainable aspects incorporated into the Adams Neurosciences Center (scheduled to open in 2027).

• Transport Management

  Yale New Haven Hospital’s award-winning Traffic Demand Management program offers employees a variety of alternatives to single-occupancy vehicle commuting, helping reduce traffic and emissions in New Haven. The programs have been recognized by the State of Connecticut CTRides Commuter Program and nationally honored as a “Best Workplace for Commuters” by the Center for Urban Transportation Research for our environmentally sustainable approach. Initiatives include:

  • A free bus service at Yale New Haven Hospital connecting commuter lots; bicycle-to-work and walk-to-work programs; dedicated parking for carpoolers; a parking space sharing program; free monthly CT Transit bus passes; and subsidies toward monthly train passes.

  • The hospital contracts with its bus provider to operate shuttle buses using compressed natural gas only.

  • To further support low-emissions transportation, the hospital provides electric vehicle (EV) charging facilities across two campuses — currently 20 EV chargers at the York Street Campus and 67 EV chargers at the Saint Raphael Campus.

Yale New Haven health System’s approach to water stewardship focuses on optimizing water use and efficiency across clinical and operational settings, helping preserve this vital resource for future generations.

Yale New Haven Health System utilizes data management platforms and high-quality sustainability data to optimize decision-making, improve sustainability performance and communicate sustainability progress.