Samitivej Hospital: Going Green

Samitivej Hospital: Going Green

While the term going green can take on many meanings, Samitivej Hospital saw it as a chance for organisational transformation. By operating in a socially and environmentally responsible manner across all levels, the hospital believes it can produce valuable assets while reducing its carbon footprint and mitigating environmental damage.

Samitivej Hospital rolled out several prominent sustainability programmes during the 2000s, but the Samitivej Green and Clean initiative launched in 2020 has proven to be a gamechanger. The overarching sustainability strategy sought to foster a culture of responsibility among stakeholders, extend outreach to surrounding communities, and create strong partnerships with external organisations.

“The global challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic were one of the major reasons we introduced the Samitivej Green and Clean initiative. The increased use of single-use containers and protective gear led to a surge in infection waste of more than 100 percent. This prompted us to rethink our waste management strategies,” Mr Udom Leelataweewud, M.D., Deputy Director of Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital says. “In order to reduce and even eliminate infection waste, we introduced several initiatives, each targeting specific aspects of hospital operations and patient engagement.”

While the effort is massive in scale, tackling challenges requires a measured strategy. Instead of trying to do everything all at once, Samitivej takes a holistic approach built upon over time.

According to hospital officials, the process starts by addressing the most relevant issues, likening it to a fishbone diagram that starts with the problem and leads to the solution. From there, research is conducted and collaboration with specialists in waste recycling takes place. Samitivej aims to demonstrate the process, track results, and make room for continuous improvement. Once the foundation for a project is strong enough, the next steps are taken.

This approach allows for greater collaboration and stakeholder engagement. For example, Samitivej regularly hosts staff workshops, so everyone is able to gain knowledge and see the outcome of their actions. That mindset extends well beyond the hospital’s walls.

“Samitivej collaborates with schools and local organisations to implement sustainability projects as we do not hold all the answers and solutions. These partnerships have led to the development of various campaigns that emphasise the importance of the environment. Being a green organisation is not something we can accomplish on our own,” Dr Udom points out.

Winning waste

Among the signature projects of the Samitivej Green and Clean initiative was Wins Waste which featured several different programmes. The first one introduced in 2023 was PPE Isolation Gown, an innovative attempt to reduce waste created by water bottles by improving recycling. The bottles that were collected were then used to provide materials for personal protective equipment (PPE) needed at the hospital.

Collection stations were set up around Samitivej with plastic then sorted. Materials suitable for use in PPE production were separated while the remaining plastic was recycled into employee shirts, Samitivej bags, and other souvenirs.

Dr Mayuree Thongpan, M.D., Chair of the Samitivej Wins Waste project, developed the idea, which came at a time during the pandemic when both PPE waste and costs were surging. The project was a way to solve two issues in a single attempt.

The end result saw the hospital provide more than 1,000 PPE gowns to staff, along with laundry bins for reuse. These gowns are designed to be used up to 50 times. For the hospital, they were able to address the problems of waste and PPE costs while contributing to greater sustainability goals.

Samitivej recorded a 46 percent increase in the number of plastic bottles collected in 2023 when compared with 2022. This reduced carbon emissions at the hospital by more than 11,000 kilograms, equivalent to the amount of CO2 absorbed by 920 large trees.

Green to gold

Over the past year, Samitivej Hospital reached key milestones and has been awarded several notable honours. While this is not why the group carries out its sustainability mission, these achievements are further proof it is on the right track.

Samitivej won the Platinum-level BDMS Green Healthcare Award last year for its ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability in healthcare. It was also bestowed with the top honour in the BDMS Waste Competition 2024 for the Samitivej Wins Waste project which was recognised for contributions to upcycling and waste reduction.

“Samitivej’s sustainability efforts are grounded in a vision to become a fully green organisation. This vision is achieved through the establishment of green initiatives that focus on shaping employee mindsets, improving day-to-day operations, and increasing community outreach,” Dr Udom concludes.

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