As hospitals grapple with the environmental impact of disposable products and various waste, eco-friendly management has emerged as a crucial challenge for medical institutions.
Samsung Medical Center has been recognized for its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) management achievements, becoming the first medical facility to receive the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy’s commendation for sustainable management. The hospital notably reduced waste by nearly 80% by fully implementing reusable containers in its funeral services.
On Monday, the hospital announced it had received this commendation at the 21st Sustainable Management Awards ceremony held on November 29. This marks a milestone as the first time a medical institution has been honored with this award.
Since 2023, the hospital has been publishing ESG reports to showcase its sustainable management initiatives and outcomes.
The institution has prioritized ESG issues in its management strategy, focusing on transparent communication of its implementation results.
A standout achievement is the hospital’s pioneering move as the first tertiary care center to fully adopt reusable containers in its funeral services.
Funeral services typically generate substantial waste from disposable tableware and packaging materials used for serving food to mourners. By transitioning to reusable containers, the hospital has achieved an impressive reduction of nearly 80% in waste from its funeral services.
The hospital has also tackled medical waste reduction. To address the common practice of disposing of general waste as medical waste, it has enhanced its waste separation and disposal processes and established a circular system for resource reuse.
These efforts aim to minimize waste generated during hospital operations and foster a sustainable healthcare environment.
Dr. Park Seung-woo, the hospital director, stated that this recognition of the ESG management practices reflects the dedicated efforts. It’s committed to sharing the best practices with other medical institutions to promote wider adoption of sustainable management principles.
