Benchmarking Lessons: How Can Sustainability 

Measurement Tools from Other Industries be Applied to Health Care? 

Julie Becker, Ph.D., MPH

Haley Singer, MPH

Joan Duckenfield, MPH(c)

Evaluation Consultants

Newark, NJ

DefinitionsMerriam Webster: methods of using resources so that the resources are not depleted or permanently damaged. 

Brundtland Commission: “Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

EPA: creating and maintaining “the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony, that permit fulfilling the social, economic and other requirements of present and future generations.”

View of Sustainability

Economic Growth

Social Justice

Healthy Environment

Sustainable Sustainable SocietySociety

Similarities between Sectors

Operational Areas Academia Hospitality Health Care

Corporate Environmental Management X X X

Housekeeping including laundry X X X

Food & Beverage Operations X X X

Conference & Meeting Facilities X X X

Engineering X X X

Operate 24/7 X* X X

Cost‐saving opportunities X X X

Marketing opportunities X X X

Facilities X X X

Similarities between Sectors

Sustainable Practices Academia Hospitality Health Care

Energy conservation X X X

Water conservation X X X

Solid waste management X X X

Hazardous waste management

X X

Indoor air quality X X X

Community outreach  X X

Building infrastructure X X X

Constituency education and training of land use X X

Environmental management X X X

Academia

The National Wildlife Federation’s Survey 

• Completed in 2001 and 2008

• 46 Item survey; two tiers‐Chancellors/Presidents (Q1‐17) and VPs of Administration/Facilities (Q18‐44)

• 1,068 campuses, surveyed from 50 states; 27% of all

• 334 responding schools demonstratedexemplary programs or want to “do more”

• Environmental/Sustainability Goal‐Setting 

• Environmental/Sustainability Personnel, Orientations

• Majors, Minors & Requiring Courses

• Interdisciplinary Degrees

• Students Taking a Course on Ecology or Sustainability

• Supporting & Evaluating Faculty

• Energy Efficiency, Conservation & Renewable Energy

• On‐Campus Clean Energy Sources & Cogeneration

• Transportation Programs

• Recycling, Solid Waste & Materials Flow

• Green Landscaping & Grounds

The National Wildlife Federation’s Survey 

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) 

Principles for Ensuring Report Quality

Balance, Comparability, Accuracy, Timeliness, Clarity, Reliability

Performance Indicators

Environment 30

Human Rights 11

Labor Practices and Decent Work 14

Society 8

Product Responsibility 9

Economic 9

Hospitality Industry

Green Seal’s Environmental Standard for Lodging Properties

Bronze Silver Gold

Categories for measurement:Waste MinimizationEnergy Efficiency, Conservation & ManagementManagement of Fresh Water ResourcesWaste Water ManagementHazardous SubstancesEnvironmentally and Socially Sensitive Purchasing PoliciesLabeling Requirements

Innovation: limited time to stay at one level

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