On October 14, 2014, Gundersen became the first U.S. health system to produce more energy than it consumed, achieving net zero energy through a portfolio of biomass, wind, geothermal, and biogas projects.
Percentiles compare this hospital against peers in the selected set. Higher is better on both metrics.
Directional estimate. Tons modeled from this hospital's annual waste footprint and category benchmarks (Practice Greenhealth, vendor case studies). Diminishing returns applied when multiple solutions share a category.
Directional estimate. Tons modeled from this hospital's annual waste footprint and category benchmarks (Practice Greenhealth, vendor case studies). Diminishing returns applied when multiple solutions share a category.
Products from our solutions directory that align with this hospital's stated commitments and active projects.
The first closed loop, 100% compostable medical isolation gown. Replaces single use plastic gowns with a plant based alternative collected and composted through a take back program.
On site aerobic digester that turns up to 220 lbs of hospital food waste and Terraloam compostable film gowns into finished compost in 24 hours closing the loop between cafeteria and clinical waste streams.
On site treatment system that decontaminates and recycles polystyrene petri dishes, PET tubes, medical tubing and polypropylene syringes back into usable resin.
First fully plastic free, PFAS free medication cup, made from bacterial cellulose. Naturally biodegrades in ~3 months and is ISO 10993 biocompatibility tested.
Capture and destroy systems for waste anesthetic gases (desflurane, sevoflurane, N₂O) that prevent potent greenhouse gas release and cut volatile pharma waste.
Compostable cups, lids, cutlery and clamshells for hospital cafeterias and patient meal trays certified industrially compostable.
Publicly documented programs where this hospital or its parent system reported measurable results.
Gundersen instituted point of service tracking of leftover food on the patient service line and in prep, then adjusted menus, portion sizes, and forecasting based on the data.
Started with paper and cardboard, then built dedicated streams for sterilization blue wrap, rigid plastics, and clinical recyclables backed by clinician led green teams.