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Vision

Excellent medicine, research and teaching - combined with ecological and social responsibility: The University Medical Center Freiburg pursues the goal of sustainable healthcare. Resource-saving technologies, climate-friendly processes and committed employees are key building blocks for this. With its sustainability strategy and its participation in KlimaWIN, the University Hospital is making this commitment this commitment to the outside world.

Anaesthetic gases

Desflurane is 2,500 times more harmful to the climate than CO₂. A six-hour operation with this gas causes emissions equivalent to a flight to South Africa. The University Medical Center Freiburg therefore relies on more environmentally friendly anaesthetics and minimal flow technology - the climate effect of a long operation is then only equivalent to a trip to to nearby Emmendingen. The recycling of anesthetic gases also contributes to climate-friendly anesthesia.

Digital instead of paper

Since May 2024, patients have been able to sign documents digitally sign them digitally. This saves processing time, storage space in the archiving system and around 850,000 sheets of paper per year sheets of paper per year - an impressive stack that, at 85 meters, it would be three quarters as high as the Freiburg Minster. Even the payslip and and many other documents that previously had to be done on paper are already digital.

And if something is printed after all, it has been done since 2020 exclusively on recycled paper.

_{CO2 calculator}

Together with the Öko-Institut e. V., the University Medical Center Freiburg developed a freely accessible tool for recording and reducing emissions in hospitals. This makes it possible for the first time for healthcare facilities to determine their CO2 emissions emissions in a standardized way and compare them with among themselves.

Climate-friendly mobility

The University Medical Center Freiburg subsidizes job tickets (including the Deutschlandticket) with 50 percent and thus promotes the switch to public transportation. Business trips are also by train instead of by car wherever possible. instead of by car.

Transportation

The automated goods transportation system (AWT) transports goods goods daily on a total of eight kilometers of underground underground rail system - electrically and with low low emissions. This saves numerous truck journeys and therefore CO₂. At the same time, it ensures fast and targeted transportation.

Solar power

Photovoltaic systems on the Bad Krozingen campus, on the Institute for Infection Prevention and the staff canteen generate electricity continuously. At the Bad Krozingen campus alone Krozingen campus alone, the photovoltaic system covers ten percent of the of the clinic's annual electricity requirements and saves 226 tons of CO2.

Sustainable canteen

Reusable crockery replaces disposable packaging, coffee comes from organic and Fairtrade cultivation, many foods are purchased purchased regionally (e.g. potatoes from the Markgräflerland) and measures to reduce waste are implemented. This results in 29% less food waste, 37,000 liters of water and one tonne of CO₂ saved per year. year.

Cooling with groundwater

The tumor center uses the natural coolness of the Black Forest groundwater to cool the concrete ceiling. The new building of the children's center has a 1.5 million liter cold storage tank with night ventilation. The system is supplemented by the building's own combined heat and power plant, which generates heat, electricity and cooling at the same time.

Waste & recycling

The University Medical Center Freiburg continuously optimizes its waste management, reduces hazardous waste and increases waste and increases the recycling rate. Measures such as porcelain dishes and efficient dishwashing systems save resources. Sustainability remains a long-term goal.

Own combined heat and power plant

The combined heat and power plant supplies the University Hospital the university and other state institutions in Freiburg with electricity and heat. Since 2018, it has been saving around 5,000 tons of CO₂ annually. Long-term planning is underway for the conversion to operation with green hydrogen.

Sustainable procurement

Since 2023, the hospital has fulfilled the requirements of the Supply Chain Sustainability Act. It regularly environmental and human rights risks on a regular basis and expects also expects suppliers to comply with these standards. Wherever possible, reusable solutions are preferred - for example by using stainless steel bowls instead of disposable plastic.