Issue link: https://blog.providence.org/i/1526508
PROVIDENCE | ESG REPORT | 18 INTRODUCTION ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIAL GOVERNANCE ABOUT US WE SHARE: EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT Providence caregivers started 19 new Green Teams in 2023, bringing our total to 50 hospitals and facilities with on-site teams actively engaged in environmental stewardship. Green Teams are cross-functional groups of caregivers from all levels of our organization who are committed to helping us improve our environmental footprint. These teams are essential to advancing our sustainable practices and creating a lasting culture of environmental stewardship at Providence. Any caregiver can start or join a Green Team, with support from our Green Team Toolkit or our systemwide coordinating group, the Action Collaborative for Environmental Stewardship (ACES). GREEN TEAMS IN ACTION Lubbock, Texas When a Regional Strategic Waste Optimization Assessment revealed that there was no formal composting partner in the Lubbock area, the Green Team at Covenant Medical Center forged an innovative partnership with a local regenerative farmer. The farmer hauls away the hospital's kitchen food waste, feeds it to his farm animals, and uses the manure produced to regenerate his soil. By the end of 2023, an estimated 70% or more of the kitchen's total food waste was being diverted to this program, at no cost. Anchorage, Alaska In Alaska's remote areas, collecting and disposing of waste is difficult and expensive. Responsible waste-management solutions are an important way to protect these areas' diverse ecosystems and communities. In 2023, Providence Green Team members from Providence Alaska Medical Center contributed to one solution at an Anchorage re:MADE and Habitat for Humanity ReStore service event. The caregivers donated their time and talents to repair and refurbish donated household items so the items could be reused rather than discarded. ABOVE: Hospital food waste supports a local regenerative farm. AT LEFT: Alaska Green Team members help restore household items to reduce waste. 0 10 20 30 40 50 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 Hospitals and facilities represented by GREEN TEAMS 1 Providence Green Team Toolkit