Building a sustainable health-care system

April 21, 2023

Interior Health is making meaningful environmental improvements. in our communities across our operations

In the past few years, British Columbians have faced increasingly challenging environmental and climate related events. Extreme heat, wildfires and floods are a few examples of disasters that have significantly affected those living in the Interior and the rest of B.C.

This interdependence between our health and the environment compels us to continue our work to reduce our environmental footprint toward a low-carbon future.

As we mark Earth Day 2023, here are a few highlights of our environmental sustainability efforts in the Interior region. You can also view and download a visual infographic of our projects and initiatives.

In this Story…

We are committed to eliminating Styrofoam

We are recovering waste anesthetic gases

We’re relying on nature to make our facilities more environmentally and patient friendly

We’re practising environmentally sustainable health care

We’re saving on our energy use and costs

We’re planning and implementing changes

We are committed to eliminating Styrofoam

A blue illustration of a styrofoam container overlaid by a circle and slash

On Earth Day 2022, IH committed to eliminating Styrofoam use in food services. We are working with our vendors and the Provincial Health Services Authority to identify alternatives that maintain the quality of patient care and safety.

We are recovering waste anesthetic gases

An image of a blue cloud and a carbon dioxide CO2 element with an arrow pointing down

Anesthetic gases are a potent source of greenhouse gas emissions. They reduce air quality and contribute to climate change. They can also present an occupational health and safety hazard to operating room staff if not properly ventilated. In Kamloops, Royal Inland Hospital’s 11 operating rooms now recover almost all anesthetic gases using canisters, which are then sent away for processing. Read the media release here.

We’re relying on nature to make our facilities more environmentally and patient friendly

An illustration of three blue flowers that look like daisies

Invermere’s Sustainability Committee planted a wildflower garden to reduce water use, increase pollination, and provide a healing space for patients.

We’re practising environmentally sustainable health care

A simple illustration of an open blue book with stylized lines and an image

Family physician Dr. Ilona Hale, a clinical researcher and avid gardener in Kimberley, has developed a guide for more environmentally sustainable practices in primary care, focusing on four principles of sustainable practice: prevention, patient self-care, lean service delivery, and low carbon alternatives.

We’re saving on our energy use and costs

An illustration of a blue electric cord with a plug on one end and a leaf on the other in the shape of a U

In Cranbrook, East Kootenay Regional Hospital has been working with an external building systems energy specialist to complete a number of upgrades to the building systems. Once these energy conservation measures are implemented, we estimate we will achieve a 23 per cent reduction on greenhouse gas emissions, and realize energy savings of 19 per cent.

We’re planning and implementing changes

An illustration of a blue lightbulb next to two electricity bolts and with two arrows circling around

We’ve released the 2022–23 Strategic Energy Management Plan that outlines how we will meet our long-term energy and greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets. In 2023, we have also developed the Climate Change and Sustainability Roadmap.

We’re getting our staff involved

An illustration of three blue human head and shoulder figures

Sustainability Committees have been established in Salmon Arm, Vernon, Kelowna, Penticton and Invermere. The number of staff engaged with local committees has increased 166 per cent in the past year.

Each day, Interior Health contributes to enhancing a culture of sustainability through transparency, communication and understanding that individuals can and do make a difference. In 2023 and beyond, we will continue to strive for meaningful environmental improvements in our communities and across our operations.

Learn more about:

Our climate action vision and efforts

Climate resiliency and planning

How we're building a sustainable health-care system