Five Utrecht hospitals and the Province of Utrecht are joining forces to make healthcare more sustainable with the goal of less waste and more reuse. By collaborating, circular innovations can be implemented and scaled regionally at the same time. For example, by increasing capacity in sterilization departments where surgical instruments are hygienically cleaned. Reusable where possible, disposable only when necessary.

On 27 February, deputy for Circular Society Has Bakker and executives of the Diakonessenhuis, Princess Máxima Center, UMC Utrecht, Meander Medical Center and St. Antonius Hospital signed a letter of intent. This strengthens their existing cooperation and focuses on making healthcare more sustainable.

Regional Initiative

The healthcare sector is responsible for about seven percent of the national CO₂ emissions and produces a lot of waste. Much of this is still unnecessarily incinerated. With this new regional cooperation, Utrecht hospital care is working on less waste, more reuse, and lower CO₂ emissions. 

Hospitals in the province of Utrecht are collaborating to make healthcare more sustainable. The province plays a driving and supportive role, helps set priorities and possible financing. Process supervisors monitor progress and keep the scaling up of sustainable and circular initiatives sharply in view. Deputy Has Bakker: “Healthcare is a large and important sector in our province and offers plenty of opportunities for innovation. Hospitals have many waste streams that we can manage more cleverly. We aim for a circular society by 2050 and this cooperation between Utrecht hospitals turns that ambition into impact for our region.”

From Individual Ideas to Joint Impact

The goal of the cooperation is to ensure less waste, fewer medicine residues in water, stimulate reuse, and jointly purchase circular products. The letter of intent runs until the end of 2030. The focus for the next four years is on developing innovations, executing projects, and scaling up initiatives that work. Such as stopping disposable clothing for parents in the operating room. This is modeled after the Wilhelmina Childrens Hospital, part of UMC Utrecht.

Josefien Kursten, member of the Board of Directors UMC Utrecht:“In every hospital, there are many opportunities to make healthcare more sustainable. Everyone works on their own part, each with a great ambition. We can share those innovations much better, develop faster, and scale further by working intensively together. With the support of the province as director, we accelerate that process.”

Leader in Sustainable Healthcare

With this joint effort, the Utrecht hospital care sector bundles knowledge and experience to accelerate the sustainability of healthcare. The parties are building a strong and visible cooperation to be the leader in sustainable and circular healthcare by 2030.

For press information:
jiri.glaap@provincie-utrecht.nl
06 39 63 21 97