Karolinska: A Global Leader in Sustainable Healthcare
Sustainability at Karolinska University Hospital is reflected in both everyday actions and long-term strategic initiatives. The key to its success is the commitment of its people.
"Our employees make a difference every day and continuously drive our sustainability efforts forward," says Petra Michélsen, Head of Sustainability at Karolinska University Hospital.
Last year, Karolinska University Hospital celebrated 20 years of environmental certification, marking an important milestone in its sustainability journey and demonstrating the value of sustained, long-term commitment. The hospital's Sustainability Programme provides a clear framework for environmental and climate initiatives, supporting continuous improvement, systematic follow-up and practical guidance for staff across the organisation.
"At Karolinska, sustainability is not a separate initiative—it is an integral part of our mission to deliver safe, high-quality healthcare that is sustainable for future generations. This means reducing our environmental footprint while ensuring resilient healthcare systems that stand the test of time," says Petra Michélsen.
A cornerstone of this work is the engagement of Karolinska's employees. More than 550 Sustainability Ambassadors lead over 200 local sustainability initiatives across the hospital.
Examples include:
- Hospital-wide circular use of protective aprons, reducing carbon emissions by 66% compared with fossil-based alternatives.
- A digital reuse platform that extends the life of medical equipment and materials.
- Reusable patient monitoring accessories introduced across the organisation, reducing emissions by 22 tonnes of CO₂ annually.
- One Planet Plate-certified patient meals, with a significant proportion of organic ingredients.
- Targeted waste reduction initiatives that reduced pharmaceutical and cytotoxic waste by approximately 31 tonnes during 2025.
Setting the standard internationally
Karolinska's sustainability leadership extends well beyond Sweden.
In November 2025 Karolinska recieved "honorable mention" in the category Excellence Award for Social and Environmental Responsibility at the IHF awards.
In June 2026, representatives from the sustainability team participated in CleanMed Europe 2026 in London, where one of the key discussions focused on how healthcare organisations can jointly drive sustainability improvements throughout the supply chain by aligning procurement requirements and engaging suppliers through dialogue.
"It is clear that Karolinska is at the forefront of sustainable healthcare. Many organisations were eager to learn from our approach and our results, and that is something we should be proud of. Collaboration and strong international networks are essential if we are to accelerate change—both locally and globally," says Petra Michélsen.
Most recently, Karolinska University Hospital was ranked among the world's leading institutions in Newsweek's World's Greenest Hospitals 2026.
The ranking evaluates hospitals across several sustainability indicators, including energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, water stewardship, waste management, pollution and chemicals, sustainable procurement and supply chains, as well as governance and strategic leadership.
"This recognition reflects many years of dedicated work across the entire organisation—from senior leadership to every individual employee. Sustainability becomes reality in everyday decisions: in every patient encounter, every choice of material, every operating theatre planned and every piece of equipment managed. That is where lasting change happens," says Petra Michélsen.