Hackensack Meridian Health Builds Healthier Communities through Sustainability Efforts

Hackensack Meridian Health Builds Healthier Communities through Sustainability Efforts

As Earth Day approaches, Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH), one of New Jersey’s largest and most comprehensive health networks, is highlighting how the healthcare industry can play a leading role in building a more sustainable future. The healthcare sector, essential to the well-being of our communities, also has a significant environmental footprint. Recognizing its opportunity to lead, HMH is pioneering a system-wide approach that embeds sustainability into every facet of operations, proving that environmental stewardship and world-class patient care are powerfully interconnected.

"At Hackensack Meridian Health, we see a direct link between a healthy environment and the health of our communities," says Kyle Tafuri, Vice President of Sustainability for Hackensack Meridian Health. "Our commitment goes beyond reducing our carbon footprint; it's about fundamentally transforming how we deliver care to ensure it's sustainable for generations to come. From the food we serve to the energy we consume, we are proving that environmental stewardship and world-class patient care go hand-in-hand."

A Landmark Partnership to Power the Future of Care

In a groundbreaking move, HMH has forged a 30-year Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) partnership with Bernhard, one of the nation's largest privately-owned infrastructure firms. The collaboration includes a $134 million investment in on-site solar and battery storage, making HMH the owner of the largest renewable energy system of any not-for-profit healthcare provider in the United States.

The project, which will include 50,000 U.S.-manufactured solar panels, is projected to:

• Reduce carbon emissions by 10%.
• Decrease purchased electricity by 25%.
• Guarantee 33% in energy savings.

Continued Investment into Energy Efficiency

Several HMH hospitals secured funding from PSEG, New Jersey Natural Gas and Elizabethtown Gas to upgrade infrastructure at each of the hospitals. The total amount of funding equates to $45 million which will reduce our energy consumption by over 10 million kwh and over 750,000 therms. Upgrades include new chillers, boilers, new controls, lighting and more. These energy upgrades will not only make our buildings more resilient and reliable when it comes to energy, but will also reduce load on the grid and reduce the overall footprint of the hospitals.

Innovations in Waste Reduction: A Circular Approach to Care

HMH is implementing creative solutions to reduce waste, a significant challenge for an industry that relies on single-use products for safety and infection control.

• A Circular Solution for Plastics: In a pioneering program at Ocean University Medical Center (OUMC), clinical plastics waste is processed into pellets and remanufactured into new products for the hospital, including patient belonging bags and even picnic tables.
• Reducing Plastic in Imaging: By switching to bulk CT contrast injectors, the network is poised to eliminate tens of thousands of pounds of single-use plastic syringes annually, streamlining patient care and reducing waste simultaneously.
• Reprocessing Medical Devices: Across the network, reprocessing and reusing medical devices has already diverted 40,000 pounds of waste from landfills and saved $1.71 million.

"This initiative is a perfect example of our sustainability philosophy put into practice," notes Tafuri. "It demonstrates that environmental stewardship and operational excellence go hand-in-hand. It’s these kinds of innovative, collaborative efforts that will help us achieve our goal of creating healthier communities."

Cultivating Healthier Communities from the Ground Up

HMH's environmental commitment extends to the food it serves and the local ecosystems it supports.

• Sustainable and Equitable Food Sourcing: As a member of the Cool Food Pledge, HMH has cut its food-related emissions by over 40%. The network sources 18% of its produce from local farms, including Black-owned farms, and ensures over 78% of meat served is raised without antibiotics.
• Meant to 'BEE': Apiaries on the rooftops of Jersey Shore University Medical Center and Ocean University Medical Center are managed by hospital team members, contributing to local pollination and producing hundreds of pounds of honey for the community.

These comprehensive efforts have earned national recognition. All of HMH hospitals became the first in the nation to receive The Joint Commission's Sustainable Healthcare Certification, a rigorous framework for decarbonization. In January of 2026 HMH was the first health system to get re-certified with the Joint Commission's Sustainable Healthcare Certification. This leadership solidifies HMH's role not just as a provider of care, but as a model for a healthier, more resilient future for all.