ROYAL NORTH SHORE HOSPITAL GREEN MATTERS
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s we come to the close of 2025 with our final edition for the year, I would like to thank each of you who have been instrumental in identifying avenues to do things differently and more sustainably across our facility. It is an honour to work in an environment, and within a hospital, that embeds its planetary health at the heart of so many decisions. Goods and services form part of our everyday operations. Our Clinical Products team has been working tirelessly to review, reduce or replace over 1,000 clinical and non-clinical procurements to enhance sustainability. This work helps in ensuring that our clinical decisions always consider their environmental impact. I would like to acknowledge the fabulous work within our Emergency and Intensive Care Units, where Green Teams continue to champion sustainability and influence decisions in clinical care. Did you know that our infrastructure also supports our planetary health goals? Our ‘Infrastructure for Impact’ posters, now displayed across the hospital, reflect a range of sustainability initiatives that are making a real difference to our environment. You can read more about these in this edition. Thank you once again for your ongoing commitment to sustainability and for the difference you make every day. Let us continue this momentum into 2026, as we work toward a healthier planet and community. . Natasha Hendy, A/Chair - RNSH Sustainability Committee
INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. Infrastructure for Impact 2. Supporting Sustainability through Wooden Pallet Recycling 3. Plastic to Bamboo - Small Swap, Big Win 4. Join the NatureFix Webinar 5. From Hospital Corridors to the Recycling Depot
6. Sustainability Starts with Knowledge
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR IMPACT Small Changes, Big Impact at RNSH At RNSH, together with our partners in the Public Private Partnership, we're proud to support the NSLHD Net Zero Roadmap and planetary health goals. Across our campus, a range of sustainability initiatives are already making a difference. Sustainable Infrastructure Ventia’s 5-year lifecycle program now incorporates low Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerants Energy-efficient lighting now brightens the ASB and 70% of Kolling, CHC common areas, Douglas Building, and the P1 carpark Nitrous Oxide decommissioned in Douglas Building and replaced with small cannisters to reduce leaks Energy-Efficient Air Conditioning motors in the CHC have been upgraded to reduce electricity consumption Repurposing beds and mattresses through lifecycle replacement, and donating them to the non-profit GIVIT Brown Water Recycling- Toilets in the ASB and CSB use recycled water from building runoff All water supplied to the facility is filtered prior to entering the site. Additionally, Zip taps and water bubblers are equipped with supplementary filtration systems Keep an eye out Transitioning from gas to electric systems in CSSD to reduce emissions Solar panels are planned for the Acute, CSB, and Kolling buildings Infrashore Retail is introducing recycling and organic waste solutions in upgraded amenities
Learn more about planetary health
NSLHD planetary health
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NSLHD-RNSH-CorporateServices@health.nsw.gov.au
SUPPORTING SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH WOODEN PALLET RECYCLING Have you ever wondered what happens to the wooden pallets that arrive at our hospital every month? These pallets are used within the hospital to store and transport clinical supplies and cleaning products from our receiving dock to storage areas, and are seen to quickly pile up. If not properly cared for, they could end up in landfill.
PLASTIC TO BAMBOO - SMALL SWAP, BIG WIN
Royal North Shore Hospital has introduced bamboo toothbrushes across all inpatient areas - a big stride in reducing our carbon footprint. The initiative was initially trialled successfully in ICU, where it received positive feedback from patients and demonstrated environmental benefits. Traditional plastic toothbrushes generate approximately 1.5-2.0kg CO emissions per unit, factoring raw material extraction, manufacturing, transport, and disposal. 2
In contrast, bamboo toothbrushes, made from cultivated bamboo and designed to be biodegradable, produce approximately 0.2-0.5kg CO emissions per unit. 2 On average, 912 toothbrushes are used at Royal North Shore, every year. By switching to bamboo toothbrushes, we are saving an estimated 1.28 tonnes CO emissions annually, which is equivalent to driving 5,000 – 6,000km in a petrol car. It is a small change with a big impact and another step forward toward caring for our planet. 2
To prevent this from happening, our Corporate Services team has partnered with our waste management company, Veolia, to collect and recycle these timber pallets. This small but meaningful change has reduced waste, increased our diversion rates from landfill and made a significant positive impact on the environment.
NatureFix brings nature’s proven health benefits into hospital care by helping staff to recharge, build resilience and create healthier workplaces. Caring for ourselves is just as important as caring for our patients, especially in a demanding healthcare environment. Join this webinar to learn more about: how NatureFix Wellness Zones across NSLHD are being used as go-to places for calm, energy and restoration. how nature prescriptions are being embedded into consumer care in a 12-week pilot at Macquarie Hospital. practical ways to access nature’s benefits throughout your day – whether it’s a few minutes in a Wellness Zone, a short walk outdoors, or simply noticing everyday nature on your commute or at home. JOIN ‘THE NATURE AT WORK – UNLOCKING YOUR VITALITY IN YOUR WORKPLACE’ WEBINAR Webinar details: Thursday, 30 October 2025, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm . Please Register here More information is available by clicking on the NSLHD NatureFix internet page.
FROM HOSPITAL CORRIDORS TO THE RECYCLING DEPOT At Royal North Shore Hospital, we are committed to reducing waste through efficient recycling practices. Our Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) that once played a key role in transporting goods around the hospital, have now reached the end of their service life. But their journey doesn’t end in landfill. Thanks to a scrap metal exchange and battery recycling program,
these hardworking machines will be responsibly dismantled and repurposed. Their components will find new life in other products, thereby supporting our sustainability goals.This marks the beginning of broader metal recycling initiatives at our facility, with many more to come as we continue to innovate in waste reduction.
SUSTAINABILITY STARTS WITH KNOWLEDGE
Are you working on a sustainability or planetary health project within your department? The NSLHD library is here to help. The library provides you access to a GreenFile database, which is a rich multidisciplinary resource with over 1.2million records on human interaction with the environment. Topics include global warming, green building, pollution, renewable energy and recycling. Additionally, our libraries support NSLHD’s Planetary Health Framework 2024-2027 via the NSLHD libraries Sustainability and Climate Change guide. The guide offers you access to a wide range of books, journal articles and databases that cover key topics on planetary health and sustainable healthcare practices. If you need more in-depth information, you can submit a literature search request to help gather the evidence you need for your project or contact NSLHD Libraries.
Planning for Electric Fleet Vehicle EV Charging at RNSH Improved Green Spaces for Staff FOR MORE SUSTAINABLE NEWS ON
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