Ramsay Newsroom

In the past year alone, Ramsay has saved 24 million single-use plastic items – such as cutlery, medicine cups and kidney dishes - from going to landfill by instead sourcing more environmentally friendly alternatives.

Ramsay Health Care Australia CEO, Carmel Monaghan, said since the single-use plastics initiative started in 2020, the organisation has removed 57 million single-use plastic items from its supply chain and hopes to reach 75 million items by the end of this year.

“What started as simple changes – including swapping out single-use crockery, straws and cutlery has grown through creative solutions suggested by our teams of dedicated people.

“We’ve also replaced single use plastic water bottles with jugs of water and glasses, saving an additional six million plastic water bottles per year from ending up in landfill.”

Removing single use plastic items is part of the organisation’s ‘Ramsay Cares’ sustainability strategy, which underpins the company’s long-term commitment to the wellbeing of its people, communities and the planet.

Ms Monaghan said reducing carbons emissions is another priority for Ramsay.

“We now have 24 hospitals with solar panels generating energy equivalent to taking almost 1,500 cars off the road every year,” she said.

“We’ve completed LED efficient lighting upgrades at 20 sites – about double the amount this time last year - and are committed to phasing out the usage of a high carbon anaesthetic gas called desflurane in our operating theatres.”

In 2022, Ramsay Health Care announced its global commitment to achieve Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions across its value chain by the year 2040.

World Environment Day: Monday 5 June 2023 is the 50th anniversary of the United Nation’s international ‘World Environment Day’. World Environment Day 2023 focuses on reducing plastic pollution.