The journey began three years ago when Elaine Chu first discovered the CoolFood Pledge, an initiative from World Resources Institute that helps food service operators commit to and achieve a science-based target to reduce the climate impact of the food they serve. In addition, research has shown that foods that have a low climate impact also have benefits to human health: they can reduce the risk of cardiovascular heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers. Elaine saw the potential for Fraser Health to be a Canadian health-care leader using the CoolFood Pledge initiative.
As then Regional Manager for Food Operations at Royal Columbian Hospital (RCH), Elaine successfully piloted the CoolFood Pledge at RCH in 2023, first engaging with Canadian partners through Nourish Leadership, an organization that fosters the transition toward equitable and sustainable health care systems.
Real Impact
RCH’s baseline results demonstrated the potential of the CoolFood Pledge to influence meaningful change. Elaine’s leadership at RCH paved the way for expansion, and in 2024, Langley and Burnaby Hospitals also signed on. The intentional selection of these sites was strategic; each site has a different menu type and production method to ensure different types of sites are represented. The collaboration across these facilities has been key to making the implementation process smoother and more efficient.
RCH’s carbon emissions resulting from food purchases were estimated with the programs carbon calculator. Carbon calculators can be powerful tools – the RCH baseline revealed that beef, which was only 2 per cent of the total food purchased (by weight) accounted for a staggering 36 per cent of emissions.
While the calculator is not perfect, it offers a tangible way to hold health-care organizations accountable for their environmental impact. But, as she notes,
This isn’t about just checking off a ‘to-do’ box —it’s about setting a foundation for real systemic change.”
Leading Change
Now, in her new role as Director of Food Services Transformation, Elaine emphasizes that the CoolFood Pledge is just the beginning; she is expanding these efforts across Fraser Health, driving larger-scale change. Her expertise and passion lie in hospital food and nutrition systems, but there are many ways to become more sustainable across the health-care system.
“As a dietitian, I found my purpose,” she says, urging others to find theirs and integrate sustainability into their daily work.
Elaine’s leadership and vision have set the stage for Fraser Health to be a leader in sustainable food practices, emphasizing the importance of embedding accountability into all aspects of the health-care system in our efforts towards planetary health.
