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Materials

Choose materials and products that contribute
to human and environmental health while avoiding
waste and unnecessary chemicals.

Filter content below by Health Organization

Health Organization

In order to provide the best care possible, health care sometimes requires the use and generation of hazardous waste and garbage.

However, within construction, support services and delivery of care, we can choose materials that have a reduced negative impact on the environment, and look for ways to reduce and avoid excess and unnecessary material use and waste.

Goals and impact

  • Divert waste to recycling and composting streams.
  • Decrease overall waste generation.
  • Promote safe materials and a circular economy.
    • The materials we use should be safe for people and the planet.
    • As many materials as possible should remain useful for as long as possible, through design for reuse, repair, reprocessing and, at end of life, recycling.
    • Unnecessary material waste should be prevented by using leverage from procurement and environmentally preferable purchasing processes.

  • Increase waste-diversion rates at acute care owned and operated sites (% of waste diverted, annual average)

    33%

    2025

    40%

    2030

  • Increase waste-diversion rates at non-acute care owned and operated sites (% of waste diverted, annual average)

    50%

    2025

    60%

    2030

  • Decrease waste-intensity rates at acute care owned and operated sites (kg/m2/year)

    13.7

    2025

    12.3

    2030

  • Decrease waste-intensity rates at non-acute care owned and operated sites (kg/m2/year)

    19.2

    2025

    17.3

    2030

  • Increase waste-diversion rates at acute care owned and operated sites (% of waste diverted, annual average)

    30%

    2025

    40%

    2030

  • Increase waste-diversion rates at non-acute care owned and operated sites (% of waste diverted, annual average)

    40%

    2025

    60%

    2030

  • Decrease waste-intensity rates at acute care owned and operated sites (kg/m2/year)

    11.3

    2025

    10.2

    2030

  • Decrease waste-intensity rates at non-acute care owned and operated sites (kg/m2/year)

    15.2

    2025

    13.7

    2030

  • Increase waste-diversion rates at acute care owned and operated sites (% of waste diverted, annual average)

    28%

    2025

    40%

    2030

  • Increase waste-diversion rates at non-acute care owned and operated sites (% of waste diverted, annual average)

    45%

    2025

    60%

    2030

  • Decrease waste-intensity rates at acute care owned and operated sites (kg/m2/year)

    4.2

    2025

    3.8

    2030

  • Decrease waste-intensity rates at non-acute care owned and operated sites (kg/m2/year)

    4.0

    2025

    3.6

    2030

  • Increase waste-diversion rates at acute care owned and operated sites (% of waste diverted, annual average)

    33%

    2025

    40%

    2030

  • Increase waste-diversion rates at non-acute care owned and operated sites (% of waste diverted, annual average)

    45%

    2025

    60%

    2030

  • Decrease waste-intensity rates at acute care owned and operated sites (kg/m2/year)

    9.3

    2025

    8.4

    2030

  • Decrease waste-intensity rates at non-acute care owned and operated sites (kg/m2/year)

    11.9

    2025

    10.7

    2030

  • Facilitation and support

    Sarah Scanlan

    Sustainability Consultant

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