Environmental Stewardship

As a health system founded on the principle of preventive medicine, Kaiser Permanente has a long history of modeling the prevention principle as it applies to the health of our communities. In spearheading efforts to limit and mitigate environmental contributors to disease, we’re tackling factors for which we — as a major participant in the health care industry — are in part responsible, including:

• high intensity energy consumption that contributes to climate change
• routine use of toxic materials and chemicals that can harm the environment
• hazardous and other waste
• food production and transport practices that undermine health.

On each of these fronts, we have adopted industry-leading strategies to reduce harmful environmental impacts in our communities. And we are pursuing those strategies with aggressive annual targets. By measuring our progress and sharing our outcomes with other health systems, we’re promoting a greener health care industry and healthier, sustainable communities for our members.