Environment: the impact of our work on a healthier world
At UMC Utrecht, we work daily to improve health. We want to contribute to people’s health and to a healthy society, also for future generations. Yet, together with other healthcare organizations, we are responsible for 7% of all the CO2 that is released into the atmosphere in the Netherlands. We want to increase our positive impact on health by reducing our negative impact on the environment and climate.
For our buildings, we have a plan to reduce the amount of CO2 that we are releasing into the atmosphere(CO2 road map). Our targets are to emit 55% less CO2 in 2030, and to become climate-neutral in our work by 2050. We are well under way to reach our target for 2030.
We have already reduced CO2 emissions by 22% compared to 2018
Sustainable, fitter and safer commuting
In 2024, we organized the ‘Sustainable-transport pilot group’ (‘Proeftuin duurzaam vervoer’): 300 colleagues who often commute by car, took up the challenge to use sustainable means for seven months. UMC Utrecht paid for their public transport and they received a higher cycling compensation (16 cents per kilometer, instead of 5 cents). They could also make free use of bicycle sharing at Utrecht Centraal and Bunnik stations. A glimpse into the results: as much as 90% of their commuting was done in a sustainable way, meaning that we were responsible for less CO2. Cycling and walking more also contributes to our colleague’s vitality and health. The participants felt fitter (both physically and mentally) and more relaxed. They also found it safer after a long night shift to take public transport rather than getting behind the wheel feeling tired. The ‘Proeftuin duurzaam vervoer’ (sustainable-transport pilot group) gave us useful results and recommendations , that the entire healthcare sector can benefit from.
Reactions from various colleagues
“Very positive experience to travel 100% by public transport. I get home earlier and pay nothing. Fantastic.”
“Not having to queue really makes me feel more relaxed.”
“I felt fitter from the cycling and even get money out of it!”
How does UMC Utrecht help its employees to make healthcare, research and education more sustainable?
At UMC Utrecht, many colleagues are committed on a daily basis to make their work more sustainable. For example by saving energy in the lab . This of course makes us happy and proud. These colleagues gather in their units in Green Teams and throughout the hospital in the Groene Netwerk (Green Network). The Green Network grew fast in 2024.
The Green Network grew from 126 members in 2023 to 547 in 2024
We support all of these colleagues who act for sustainable working in a variety of ways. Online, we launched Platform Duurzaam UMC Utrecht, a sustainable platform where colleagues can find each other as well as lots of information and inspiration. Offline, we opened the refurbished Innovatiehub (innovation hub) where colleagues can go with good ideas. We also organized network events to celebrate achievements and exchange knowledge. In cooperation with other UMCs, we published the Green Team Road Map , a step-by-step plan for Green Teams to start a sustainable project. Lastly, we once again organized Expeditie Groen en Gezond (the Green and Healthy expedition): during a theme fortnight, we set up various outdoor initiatives to enjoy the sunshine and get new colleagues involved in working actively towards sustainability.
Josefien Kursten, an Executive Board member at UMC Utrecht, is a key driving force for sustainability at UMC Utrecht. This is also clear to the outside world. In 2024 she received the title ‘Chief Value Officer of 2024’, an annual award for the most impact-driven Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in the Netherlands .
