Happy Earth Day! This celebration is a time to reflect on all that God has bestowed upon us through abundant gifts from the earth.
At Mercy Health, we appreciate and care deeply for creation. This month, we’ve highlighted some of the efforts our ministry is taking to ensure we are being good stewards of the earth. This all kicked off with World Health Day earlier this month where we broke down how we are working to be good stewards of energy and land.
And today on Earth Day, we would like to continue that conversation and share how we are working to be good stewards of connectivity.
Being Good Stewards of Connectivity
Our sustainability efforts are the result of a lot of different teams throughout the ministry. We rely heavily on our supply chain and mission teams to really drive the action behind sustainable changes we can make. Within the partnership, we teach each other about stewardship and sustainability, share best practices, communicate progress and align on priorities. All of this is done to intentionally build integral ecology into our culture, planning and operations.
Here are some of the initiatives this partnership has put into place in 2021:
- Many of our hospitals we have transitioned to reusable products. Examples include isolation gowns and pulse oximetry sensors.
- Desflurane was removed from the acute care formulary. This translated to the avoidance of approximately 1,671 metric tons of CO2 being released into the atmosphere.
- In an effort to reduce freight-related emissions as well as build up local business, we opted to use local manufacturers, when possible. At one manufacturer in particular, we’ll also be using domestic raw goods – further reducing emissions in our logistics model.
These are just a few of the things we’re doing to help us improve wellness of mind, body and spirit while strengthening our relationship with the physical world — illustrating our Catholic identity and our belief that in the eyes of God, everything is connected.
What will you do today to show your appreciation for God’s abundant gifts of the earth?
Please join us in our efforts to care for the earth. Here are a few ideas Earth Day celebration ideas to get you started:
- Take a walk in your neighborhood and collect any litter you see. For safety, use plastic gloves and a bag.
- Enjoy a plant-based diet for the day. Consuming less meat is helpful for the environment.
- Plant a vegetable or herb garden. It doesn’t have to be anything large, simply a small planter on a patio or a flat plot of land in your backyard will work.
- Plant flowers in your yard. You’ll enjoy their beauty for months to come and you’ll provide a much-needed habitat for our earth’s bees.
- Spend time getting closer to God through nature. Take a walk outside alone or with your family. Be present and notice all the details along your path. Be sure to stay hydrated during your stroll by drinking water from a reusable water bottle.
Learn more about the health care services we offer at Mercy Health.
