Strategic plans | Sustainability
Our Network's purpose is to help children live their healthiest of lives. We want to ensure that children now and in the future, grow up in a world where they can enjoy good health and wellbeing. The healthcare sector consumes vast amounts of energy and water and generates significant volumes of waste.
As a Network, we have a responsibility to minimise our impact on the environment and lead the way in improving the environmental sustainability of the healthcare sector.
Net Zero Pathway 2024-2027
This document outlines our commitment and actions to achieve our net zero emissions targets.
Explore the pathway
Building sustainable hospitals
Sustainability is a key principle for both our hospital redevelopments, with sustainability strategies developed with input from a Sustainability Project Working Group representing all precinct partners.
We have diverted tonnes of PVC items from landfill and recycled them into useful products such as garden hoses, children’s play mats, vinyl flooring, carpet backing and gumboots.
We have redistributed medical equipment, items and furniture no longer required to local and overseas health facilities and community groups.
We offer a hospital bike fleet for staff to cycle to and from work encouraging healthy, active transport choices.
In 2020, close to 3 million kilometers in travel were avoided through our Telehealth program, resulting in a reduction in transport-related carbon emissions.
Paper-use has reduced by 19% over the last four years due to many of our processes and systems now completed online.
More than 100 staff have signed up as a green champion to participate in our sustainability initiatives. New staff are introduced to the sustainability program as part of their corporate orientation.
We are a member of the NSW Government program, Sustainability Advantage to receive tailored support in their sustainability program, and a member of the Global Green and Healthy Hospitals Network.
Our indoor and outdoor water refill stations promote health drink choices and encourage staff and families to refill their drink bottles, rather than using disposable plastic bottles and cups.
We are among the first health organisations in NSW to move from piped nitrous oxide to cylinder-based delivery. This approach is proving highly effective in paediatric settings, significantly reducing CO2 emissions while improving operational efficiency.
The Children’s Hospital at Westmead is one of the first hospitals in NSW on track to meet the NSW Government target of halving organic waste sent to landfill and supporting a circular economy by 2030. We are committed to extending this success across the whole Network.
We are leading a groundbreaking project to reduce the environmental impact of metered dose inhalers (MDIs), improve asthma management in young children and create a scalable model for respiratory care across NSW.