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You're Invited - Join Us for Plastics Reduction Week!
Date: November 24 - 28, 2025
We’re excited to invite you to Plastics Reduction Week, hosted by CCGHC’s Circular Clinical Care: Single-Use Plastics Reduction Project.
This is a free virtual week-long event dedicated to advancing plastics reduction in health care. Throughout the week, the Circular Clinical Care team will share progress from the project’s first 12 months through webinars, interactive sessions, and social media activities.
Each day will explore a key theme from the Single-Use Plastics Reduction initiative:
Join any session—or all of them—to learn, connect, and collaborate on creating a more sustainable health care system.
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Low Carbon Energy Fact Sheet - Thermal Gradient Header
Health care facilities are energy-intensive but produce significant waste heat. The Thermal Gradient Header (TGH) integrates heating and cooling into a single, efficient system centered on a heat recovery chiller, capturing and reusing waste heat that conventional systems overlook. With over two decades of refinement and proven success in health care, TGH delivers cost-effective carbon reduction and enhanced performance.
Check out our latest fact sheet to learn more about TGH and determine whether it's an appropriate low carbon energy option for your facility.
This fact sheet is part of the Coalition's Preparing Canada’s Health Care Buildings for Net-Zero project, made possible with investment from the Government of Canada's Low Carbon Economy Implementation Readiness Fund.
| | Decarbonization in Action Video - Spotlighting Unity Health’s Green Nephrology Work | |
CCGHC is excited to share a new video spotlighting a decarbonization solution for kidney care. By shifting away from single-use jugs of acid to a centralized acid delivery system (CDS), the team at St. Michael’s Hospital—part of the Unity Health health care network—has developed a solution that saves 95,000 litres of acid a year. This translates to $85,000 in annual savings, while also preventing an estimated 28 tonnes GHG emissions. That is equivalent to 63 barrels of oil!
The video features nephrologists, Dr. Ron Wald and Dr. Meera Shah, who are committed to delivering high-quality kidney care that is better for patients and the planet. It also features clinical engineering technologists, Hassan Pooya and Simranjeet Singh, who are carrying forward a proud tradition of innovation at St. Michael’s Hospital.
This video was created as part of the Decarbonization in Action project, which supports decarbonization initiatives in Canadian hospitals. The project is a collaboration between CCGHC and MaRS Discovery District, made possible through the generous support of the Peter Gilgan Foundation.
| | Recognizing Corporate Knights' 30 Under 30 Young Sustainability Leaders | |
Congratulations to Armaan Kotadia (CCGHC Project Assistant) and Sarah Machane (CASCADES Innovation Lead for Quebec) on being named as Corporate Knights’ 30 Under 30 Young Sustainability Leaders!
We’re incredibly proud to see two remarkable young people—one working directly within our organisation and one collaborating closely alongside us—recognized for their dedication, leadership, and vision for a more sustainable health care future. Their passion and impact inspire our entire community.
Please join us in celebrating Armaan and Sarah and learn more about their achievements below.
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Armaan Makhani-Kotadia
At McMaster University, Armaan has been a driving force behind initiatives to reduce single-use plastics and expand access to water refill stations. He also co-founded a fund that empowers marginalized students to lead sustainability projects — a testament to his belief in inclusive climate action.
Through his work with CCGHC, Armaan contributes to national efforts to decarbonize the health sector, helping to build networks and resources that support hospitals and organisations in reducing their environmental impact.
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Sarah Machane
At CASCADES Sarah leads work on health care waste management, sustainable radiology, and greenhouse gas emissions estimation, and serves as the anchor staff in Quebec. She has aided in the development of a variety of playbooks and tools to advance sustainability in health care.
She currently leads the Healthcare Waste Management and GHG Emissions Estimations communities of practice, in collaboration with CCGHC and alongside the communities of practice chairs and advisory boards.
| | Myles Sergeant recognized with 2025 Environmental Health Award | |
Dr. Myles Sergeant, Executive Director of CCGHC has received the 2025 Environmental Health Award from the CFPC and FAFM for his outstanding leadership in environmental health. Recognized for his decades-long commitment to sustainable health care, he has advanced practical, system-wide change through initiatives like the Hamilton Family Health Team Green Initiative, CCGHC, Trees for Hamilton, and PEACH Health Ontario.
His work continues to inspire a national movement toward environmentally responsible health care. The award was presented at the Family Medicine Forum Conference in Winnipeg.
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Help Us Build a Greener Health System
The Coalition is now a registered charity—marking a major milestone in its 25-year mission to advance sustainability in health care. Donate today to help build a greener, healthier, and more climate-resilient Canada.
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Green One Health Cardiology
JACC Journals Advances
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This article highlights how the One Health framework connects environmental exposures, ecosystem changes and cardiovascular health. It also underscores how environmental drivers like air pollution, microplastics, and chemical exposures are shaping cardiovascular risk; how health systems have a crucial role in reducing environmental contributors to disease through sustainable operations.
The authors call for cross-disciplinary collaboration between clinicians, public health, environmental scientists, and health-system leaders.
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Transforming Health Care: The PEACH Approach to Reducing Emissions
BMJ Leader
The health care sector has recognised its significant emissions and climate impact, and is beginning to address emission hotspots. However, implementing necessary changes while working with current stressors in the sector such as high patient volumes, limited resources, and staffing shortages, remains a challenge. PEACH Health Ontario was launched in 2021 to address this and has grown to a national scope of work with some of their initiatives.
This paper outlines the ‘PEACH Approach’ to guide health care towards a net-zero future and describes how PEACH and the approach were developed. The PEACH Approach drives a cultural shift in health care sustainability, creating solutions that lead to tangible outcomes. By using knowledge translation, providing practical solutions, and engaging with stakeholders, PEACH charts a course forward for both people and the planet.
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Alberta Health Services Green Team Competition 2025
Alberta Health Services
In early 2025, Alberta Health Services (AHS) commenced their Calgary Zone Green Team Competition in partnership with the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare (CSH), a clinical leadership and engagement programme for health care organisations wishing to improve the sustainability of their services.
This was the second competition with AHS, but CSH’s first ever licenced competition. After collaborating closely during the 2024 competition, Jelena Poprzen, Clinical Quality Improvement Consultant, took the lead in facilitating teams through this year’s event.
This marks a significant milestone for the Green Team Competition. Not only was the competition hosted by the organisation, but it was also led from within, showcasing AHS’s leadership in advancing sustainable health care improvement.
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New ATACH Technical Products Launched at COP30
ATACH
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Two new technical guidance documents have been published this week on the ATACH Community of Practice website and were launched during ATACH day at COP30:
These reports are the products of the ATACH Task Teams for Measuring greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of national health systems and for Alignment of national procurement standards, respectively. They meet the need for actionable guidance to support progress towards climate resilient and sustainable health systems.
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Ontario Opens Applications for EV ChargeOn Program for Limited Time
Electric Autonomy
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Applications have reopened for the latest round of the EV ChargeON program for funding to support the installation of public electric vehicle chargers across Ontario.
All Ontario communities are eligible to apply, regardless of population size. The program will also be accepting applications from businesses (including those majority-owned by Indigenous peoples), not-for-profit corporations, municipalities, Indigenous communities and organisations, and broader public sector institutions such as hospitals, universities, colleges, and school boards.
Application deadline is December 15, 2025.
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How Efficiency Checklists Help Hospitals Save Energy, Water and Money
Healthcare Facilities Today
As hospitals face increasing demands to cut emissions while managing tight budgets, efficiency offers one of the most immediate paths forward.
Health Care Without Harm & Practice Greenhealth’s Health Care Energy & Water Efficiency Checklist was designed to help health care facilities teams uncover low- and no-cost opportunities to save resources, lower costs and support decarbonization efforts.
Healthcare Facilities Today spoke with Keith Edgerton, director of climate solutions at Health Care Without Harm & Practice Greenhealth, about how the checklist came to be, and how health care facility managers can put it to work in their own buildings.
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Northern Health Launches Climate Change and Sustainability Roadmap
Northern Health
Northern Health has officially released their Climate Change and Sustainability Roadmap (2025–2030) — a bold five-year strategy to strengthen our commitment to a healthier, more resilient North.
The Roadmap outlines 18 key actions across four focus areas:
- Strengthening governance
- Reducing emissions
- Enhancing climate preparedness
- Empowering community-driven solutions
From sustainable food services and waste management to climate emergency preparedness, we’re committed to reducing our footprint and supporting communities across the North.
| | NEW! RETScreen® Expert Version 9.4 | |
Version 9.4 of the RETScreen® Clean Energy Management Software platform is now available for download from the RETScreen website.
The RETScreen® Clean Energy Management Software Version 9.4 upgrades include automated weather data services. Streaming data is now available from Copernicus – European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF – global coverage) and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC – ground weather stations across Canada). Both daily and hourly data are available.
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Eight great new webinars coming in 2026. These webinars are free when you login as a CHES Members. Non-members can access webinars for a nominal fee.
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January 28, 2026 - Improving the Sustainability of Healthcare Humidification Systems
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February 18, 2026 - Preventive Maintenance vs. Predictive Maintenance - Pros and Cons
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March 18, 2026 - IPAC in Construction for LTC: Maneuvering the Complex Environment of LTC
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April 22, 2026 - Energy and Sustainability
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May 20, 2026 - Building Envelope: Maintenance and Upkeep Best Practices
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June 17, 2026 - The Resilient Hospital: Future-Proofing Critical Healthcare Systems
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October 21, 2026 - Time for an Air Change; Advancing Demand-Controlled Displacement Ventilation
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November 18, 2026 - Reusables in Healthcare: Cutting Waste, Costs and Carbon Footprints
Listen in and strengthen your knowledge and professional impact.
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Women Building the Future of Health Care Facilities
CHES
Date: December 16, 2025
Time: 9:00am PST/12:00pm EST
Join CHES for an empowering event featuring three remarkable women who are shaping the future of health care infrastructure. Through their experiences that shape, stories that guide, and work that inspires, you'll gain insight into the challenges, triumphs, and innovations driving change in health care environments.
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Potentially Inappropriate Antipsychotic Use in LTC: Alternative Approaches
Choosing Wisely Canada
Date: November 27, 2025
Time: 9:00am PST/12:00pm EST
Reducing potentially inappropriate antipsychotic use in long-term care (LTC) involves changing how care teams assess and manage resident behaviours. Across Canada, LTC homes are seeing meaningful results for residents and their families by adopting alternative behavioural approaches.
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Have you registered as an organ donor?
Contact your local organ donation agency and speak to your family about your wishes. You have the power to save and transform lives. Learn more and register to donate HERE.
| | The Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care is Canada’s leading network dedicated to advancing environmental sustainability in the health sector. Guided by our vision of a sustainable, resilient, and equitable health system for all, we mobilize change-makers, build capacity, and deliver practical tools and strategies that drive meaningful action. www.greenhealthcare.ca | | Some articles referred to in the Digest make reference to services and/or product offerings from specific suppliers. The CCGHC recommends that readers research the service and product offerings available through a wider range of suppliers for comparison purposes and in keeping with public sector purchasing guidelines. These articles should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any product or service. | | | | |
