One of the largest academic medical systems in the New York metro area receives three major sustainability awards from Practice Greenhealth
Mount Sinai Health System has been recognized with three top honors by Practice Greenhealth, the U.S. leading organization dedicated to environmental sustainability in health care. The awards celebrate the significant progress that Mount Sinai has made in integrating environmentally responsible practices across its hospitals and facilities — a program known as Mount Sinai Green that reflects a systemwide commitment to a healthier planet and patients.
“Mount Sinai Health System is committed to helping create a cleaner tomorrow by elevating our environmental stewardship and strengthening our organizational culture and operational excellence,” says Muoi A. Trinh, MD, Medical Director of Sustainability, Mount Sinai Health System. “These awards are a visible testament to our work to support the health of our planet and the people who live on it.”
This year, Mount Sinai Health System competed against 395 hospitals nationwide in the Environmental Excellence Awards, and earned the following:
- System for Change Award, recognizing health care institutions that have made impactful environmental progress and embedded sustainability into their culture and operations. Mount Sinai Health System is one of only 15 health systems nationwide to receive this honor.
- Emerald Award, celebrating the top hospitals with advanced sustainability programs and exemplary performance. The Mount Sinai Hospital, Mount Sinai West, and Mount Sinai Brooklyn are among the hospitals honored for 2025.
- Partner for Change Award, acknowledging superior performance in environmental sustainability. Mount Sinai Morningside, Mount Sinai Queens, and New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai are among the campuses with this distinction.
These achievements build on the success of Mount Sinai Green initiatives, a set of targeted efforts to reduce waste, improve energy efficiency, and create healthier environments. These efforts are deeply aligned with ongoing research at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where scientists are studying how environmental factors impact health and disease.
“A safer environment isn’t just good policy — it’s essential to patient care,” said Dr. Trinh. “Our upcoming initiatives focus on creating healthier spaces that support healing, reduce risk, and reflect our commitment to both environmental responsibility and clinical excellence.”
“These awards are an encouraging milestone, but they’re just the beginning,” said Colin Barrett, Vice President, Infrastructure and Special Projects, Mount Sinai Health System. “We’re building on this momentum with new initiatives focused on reducing emissions, improving waste diversion, and enhancing resiliency across our campuses. Our goal is to lead by example — not just meeting standards, but setting them, for the future of sustainable health care.”
Recently, Mount Sinai Health System joined the New York State Insurance Fund (NYSIF) Climate Action Pledge, committing to reduce emissions by 50 percent by 2030 and net zero by 2050. The Climate Action Plan outlines a comprehensive strategy to lower greenhouse gas emissions, enhance resilience to climate impacts, and foster education and outreach.
In the coming year, Mount Sinai will build upon its sustainability program and drive even greater gains for the environment in the year ahead by improving on supplier scorecards to track carbon emissions from its supply chain, as well as promote use of lower carbon medications and products. Additionally, Mount Sinai is working to reduce its energy consumption through innovative technologies such as waste heat recovery from its data centers.
As a member of Practice Greenhealth, Mount Sinai is helping lead the way toward a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable future.
Article Source:
Press Release/Material by Mount Sinai Health System | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Featured image credit: Freepik
