Erasmus MC has firm ambitions in the field of sustainable care. This is not surprising, since the care sector is responsible for no less than 7% of total greenhouse gas emissions in the Netherlands. But what about Erasmus MC’s ecological footprint? This has now been investigated in detail for the first time. And what emerges? Purchasing goods and services, such as medicines, has a significant impact on the footprint.
As a major university medical centre, Erasmus MC wants to take the lead in sustainable healthcare together with partners. ‘By signing the Green Deal Sustainable Care 3.0, we aim to reduce CO₂ emissions by 55% in 2030 and climate neutrality in 2050. The key word is reduce, reduce, reduce,’ says programme manager of a Sustainable Erasmus MC Hans-Peter Schilte.
Not just gas and electricity
As an important step in reducing emissions, research firm Metabolic has now mapped CO₂ emissions across the organisation. The CO₂ footprints published over the past four years included everything Erasmus MC emits through its chimney (think diesel and gas) and the emissions from electricity procurement, heating and cooling. But an important component was missing: emissions from what is purchased in goods and services.
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