Developing a measurement and determination strategy for calculating carbon footprint specific to the healthcare sector

Challenge

To achieve the European goal of being climate neutral by 2050, strong and targeted actions are necessary. Healthcare institutions also have a significant climate impact. That is why the "Ziekenhuis aan de Stroom network", a collaboration between Hospital Network Antwerp (HNA) and GZA hospitals, wants to determine precisely what contribution they can make and what measures they themselves can take. 

Mapping the CO2 emissions of the extensive hospital network is a challenging task. Its operations span more than 15 sites and several buildings, with intensive logistics and staff movements. In addition, they use many materials that are delivered worldwide, leading to significant waste generation. In addition, there are numerous specific healthcare processes whose environmental impacts are currently unknown.

With this project, their mission is to develop a reproducible measurement and determination strategy specifically tailored to the healthcare sector. This strategy will allow them to understand the true impact of various processes so that they can prioritize and formulate an effective climate strategy.

Ideally, the findings are visible in a dynamic dashboard. This provides up-to-date information per process and allows simulation of which measures have the greatest impact. The developed model can subsequently be made available to other players in the broader healthcare sector. In this way, we work together towards a sustainable and climate-neutral future for the healthcare sector.

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