Mater has launched a new Environmental Sustainability (ES) Framework and Action Plan which will see its hospitals and services reduce their carbon emissions by 80% over the next eight years.

It’s an ambitious target, but Mater is determined to play its part in the global drive to reduce emissions and safeguard our planet’s future.

The plan builds on Mater’s previous environmental sustainability policy –– which has delivered more than 200 initiatives in the past decade. But Mater is now turbocharging that strategy to align with the global vision of achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

Mater Chief Executive Officer Peter Steer said the framework acknowledges that environmental sustainability and climate change risks must be managed by all businesses including all parts of healthcare organisations.

“The health sector has a particular obligation to embed sustainability concerns into its work given it contributes an estimated seven per cent of Australia’s carbon emissions,” Mr Steer said.

“Whilst the plan may seem ambitious, we have a firm focus on ensuring we are playing a meaningful role in reducing our carbon footprint.

“This stronger direction allows Mater to take its efforts to the next level on taking real action to address climate change and our environmental impacts more broadly.”

An extensive solar power generation system has been installed at Mater Private Hospital Townsville and new initiatives are planned in South East Queensland to further reduce carbon emissions.

These include new energy supply contracts for South Brisbane that guarantee at least 20 per cent of site’s power is provided from renewable sources and a pilot of electric vehicles by Mater Pathology and Mater at Home.

Mater People are also being encouraged to play a role of reducing waste and emissions.

For the past 18 months, Mater teams have begun to establish Waste Action Groups (WAGs) aimed at improving the quality and quantity of waste reduction in a collaborative and systematic way.

The Mater Redland WAG has helped the site increase recycling by over 20 per cent.

The Mater Environmental Sustainability (ES) Framework and Action Plan 2021 – 2025 outlines how Mater will respond to environmental pressures, measured against the following themes:

1. Energy, carbon and other emissions
2. Water
3. Waste and recycling
4. Procurement
5. Facilities design and construction
6. Transport (fleet)
7. Engagement, education and leadership.

Mater believes that every individual and institution has a part to in creating a sustainable future.