REVIEW article
Front. Public Health
Sec. Planetary Health
Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1559132
Greening the Future of Healthcare: Implementation of Sustainability Strategies in German Hospitals and Beyond -A ReviewImplementing Sustainability Measures in German Hospitals: A Review
Provisionally accepted
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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This study explores the implementation of sustainability measures within German hospitals, emphasizing their critical role in mitigating environmental impacts and promoting public and planetary health. The healthcare sector significantly contributes to global greenhouse gas emissions, necessitating urgent reforms in energy use, waste management, construction, transportation, and food systems. Key findings highlight the potential for hospitals to enhance energy efficiency, adopt renewable energy sources, and reduce waste through innovative technologies and sustainable practices. Initiatives such as green hospital designs, climate-conscious food systems, and sustainable procurement strategies are central to reducing the ecological footprint. Additionally, healthcare professionals are positioned to advance preventive medicine and educate patients on the health implications of climate change. Despite these opportunities, barriers such as workforce shortages, insufficient funding, and technical complexity hinder progress. Addressing these challenges through leadership commitment, resource allocation, and staff engagement is essential for aligning the healthcare sector with national and international sustainability goals. By prioritizing sustainability, hospitals can achieve long-term economic benefits, improve patient outcomes, and foster a healthier, more resilient society.
Keywords: sustainability, healthcare, Well-being, Energy, Climate protection, Greenhouse gas emissions, Planetary health, planetary health diet
Received: 11 Jan 2025; Accepted: 21 Apr 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Schwab, Schiestl and Hasenburg. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Roxana Schwab, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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