Strategies for Mitigating Health Sector Scope 3 Emissions
To confront the challenge of Scope 3 emissions head-on, health sector organizations must move beyond identifying and accurately measuring Scope 3 emissions to implementing effective strategies for mitigation by emphasizing collaboration, innovation, and comprehensive planning.
Figure 5: Example Assessment of Reduction Opportunities for Healthcare Value Chain
Figure 6: Example Targets, Strategies, Benefits to Address Healthcare Scope 3 Emissions
EV = electric vehicle
MDI = methylene diphenyl diisocyanate
SBT = science-based target
Sustainable Procurement Practices
A significant lever for reducing Scope 3 emissions lies in the procurement process. By adopting sustainable procurement practices, health sector organizations can influence their supply chains toward lower carbon alternatives.
This involves:
- Establishing Green Procurement Policies: Develop and implement procurement policies that prioritize products and services from suppliers that provide life cycle assessment data and/or demonstrate success in minimizing the carbon impacts of their products or operations.
- Supplier Engagement and Development: Work closely with suppliers to understand their emissions profiles and encourage them to adopt greener practices. Initiatives can include joint sustainability goals, sharing best practices, and support or incentives for reducing emissions.
Waste Management and Reduction
With health sector facilities generating substantial amounts of waste, effective waste management and reduction strategies can significantly affect Scope 3 emissions.
Strategies include:
- Enhancing Recycling, Repair, or Refurbishment Programs: Recycling programs reduce the need for virgin material production throughout the supply chain, and prioritizing programs for repair or refurbishment may extend the useful life of products or enable repurposing.
- Promoting Reusable Products: Where possible, shift from single-use to reusable products to decrease waste and emissions from production and disposal.
- Optimizing Supply Chain Logistics: Streamline supply chain logistics to reduce transportation-related emissions, including optimizing delivery routes and schedules and selecting carriers with lower emission profiles.
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Energy consumption in the supply chain, from the production of medical devices to the transportation of supplies, contributes significantly to health sector Scope 3 emissions. Strategies to address this include:
Strategies include:
- Energy Efficiency and the Energy Transition: Support and incentivize suppliers to identify energy-saving opportunities in their operations, and transition to renewable energy suppliers.
- Investing in Renewable Energy: Invest in renewable energy projects that support supply chain partners and communities and shift investment portfolios toward renewable energy projects and companies or funds with strong environmental records.
Innovative Technologies and Solutions
Technology and innovative solutions can offer new pathways for mitigating Scope 3 emissions, including:
- Digital Health Solutions: Adopt telehealth and digital health services to reduce the need for patient and staff travel and lower transportation-related emissions.
- Advanced Materials and Recycling Technologies: Invest in research and development of advanced or biodegradable materials that have a lower carbon footprint or support the reduction of waste or materials in the production of medical products, equipment, and infrastructure.
Collaboration and Advocacy
Finally, the management of Scope 3 emissions in the health sector requires collaboration beyond individual organizations. Industry-wide initiatives that share best practices, increase communication, and advocate for regulations that reflect operational realities can amplify the impact of mitigation efforts across the sector.
- Industry Coalitions: Participate in health sector sustainability coalitions and working groups to collaborate on shared challenges and solutions for reducing Scope 3 emissions.
- Policy Engagement: Engage in advocacy efforts to support policies and regulations that encourage sustainability in the health sector supply chain.