Environmental Sustainability

St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne (SVHM) is committed to creating a health service that delivers quality healthcare with sustainable practices.  

The health and wellbeing of our community depends, in part, on the health of our environment. Our health service has a mission to serve the most vulnerable, who are disproportionately impacted by the impacts of climate change. SVHM has a responsibility to reduce our contribution to climate change and environmental harm and use our resources wisely. 

In November we launched our SVHM Environmental Sustainability Action Plan 2024–2027. Building on the achievements of the 2023–2024, our 2024–2027 Plan outlines a comprehensive approach to embedding sustainability into our operations and service delivery.

This plan is a significant step forward in our ongoing journey towards environmental sustainability. It is designed to integrate eco-friendly practices into every facet of our operations, ensuring that our impact on the environment is positive and enduring. By aligning our actions with the latest advancements in sustainability and the values we uphold, we aim to create a legacy of responsible stewardship and innovation.


Our five priority areas for action are:


  • Organisational Culture and Leadership: Cultivating environmental responsibility across SVHM and with leadership supporting and driving sustainability initiatives.

  • Energy, Water and Buildings: Reducing energy and water consumption, improving building efficiency and minimising our overall environmental footprint.

  • Waste Management: Enhancing waste management practices to reduce, reuse and recycle materials, and to manage waste in an environmentally responsible manner.

  • Procurement, Travel and Transport: Adopting sustainable practices in procurement processes, and optimising travel to lower emissions and resource use.

  • Clinical Sustainability: Integrating sustainability into clinical practices, including reduction of environmental impacts of medical supplies and procedures.


Information about our environmental performance and some initiatives underway to reduce these impacts are included in our SVHM Annual Report 2023-2024.