The Aspirus Sustainability Initiative
As a leader in the communities we serve, Aspirus is committed to being economically, socially and environmentally responsible. The Aspirus Sustainability Initiative was established in 2018 as a coordinated, strategic effort to identify and implement sustainability initiatives intended to improve the lives of our patients and the health of our communities. This initiative is in direct alignment with our mission: We heal people, promote health and strengthen communities.
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Our initial long-term goals are:
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3 Years
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5 Years
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10 Years
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Reduce Carbon Footprint
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30%
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50%
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80%
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Reduce Energy Costs
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$2 million
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$3 million
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$4 million
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Lead within Practice Green Health
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75th percentile
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50th percentile
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25th percentile
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Baseline - Annual Spend
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$0
Energy
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$0
Waste
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$0
Water
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0
Carbon
(metric tons)
Celebrating Sustainability at Aspirus
Fiscal Year 2020 (July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2020)
Fiscal Year 2019 (July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019)
Clinical Climate Champion
Presented by the committee that oversees Aspirus Health's system-wide sustainability efforts, the Clinical Climate Champion award recognizes clinical team members who identify and implement sustainable clinical practices, and demonstrate leadership and innovation within their department through:
- Reducing waste (material, energy, water, carbon equivalents and more).
- Improving the patient experience and employee safety.
- Supporting operational performance.
In honor of their remarkable efforts, recipients each receive five trees planted in their name in the Superior National Forest.
November 2021 - Billie Schilling, RN, Aspirus Medford Hospital operating room
Billie earned the Clinical Climate Champion award for pinpointing and spearheading several sustainable practice changes within Aspirus Medford's operating room (OR), including:
- Establishing a partnership to recycle flexible plastics into park benches made from recycled materials.
- Replacing one-time-use patient foam positioners with reusable gel positioners.
- Upcycling towels into cleaning rags rather than sending them to the landfill.
- Creating signage for recycling bins and providing education within the OR suite about recycling hard plastic waste.
- Repurposing batteries that are used once and otherwise landfilled.
Click here to read more about Billie and her commitment to sustainability.