In recognition of its achievement and innovation in health care sustainability, Mason Health has received the Greenhealth Emerald Award from Practice Greenhealth, the nation’s leading organization dedicated to environmental sustainability in health care.
The Greenhealth Emerald Award recognizes outstanding hospitals from within the Partner for Change applicants. This competitive award honors the top 20 percent of applicants and highlights advanced sustainability programs and exemplary scores across a range of categories.
This marks another milestone in Mason Health’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship. Since 2021, the District’s Green Team, led by Chief Development & Communication Officer Jennifer Capps, has been awarded a total of eight awards from Practice Greenhealth, including an Environmental Excellence Award (2021), Partner for Change Award (2022, 2023, 2024), Greening the OR Recognition (2023, 2024), Making Medicine Mercury Free Award (2024) and now the Greenhealth Emerald Award (2025). These awards reflect the District’s long-standing dedication to reducing its environmental footprint.
“In a shifting health care landscape, a focus on sustainability can help build resilience while better protecting the health of patients and the community,” said Gary Cohen, Practice Greenhealth founder. “Mason Health demonstrates the kind of leadership, innovation, and performance that can drive the entire health sector toward more environmentally responsible practices.”
Mason Health continues its ongoing commitment to sustainable change with initiatives such as a new toner cartridge recycling program launched by Mason Health’s Supply Chain Department in partnership with Capital Business Machines (CBM). The program enables departments to return used toner cartridges and toner waste collection bins to Supply Chain, which then coordinates with CBM for collection and recycling. This initiative is cost-neutral and helps reduce landfill waste, reinforcing Mason Health’s commitment to sustainable operations.
“Our new Toner and Waste Cartridge Recycling Program is part of our ongoing commitment to sustainability and responsible resource management,” said Supply Chain Director Sean Hazlett. “By making it easier for customers to return used cartridges, we’re helping reduce landfill waste and promote the reuse of valuable materials. It’s a simple step with a big environmental impact—and one we’re proud to offer as part of our green initiatives.”
The Emerald Award is one of Practice Greenhealth’s Environmental Excellence Awards, given annually to honor health care’s achievements in sustainability.
Practice Greenhealth is the leading membership and networking organization for sustainable health care, delivering environmental solutions to more than 1,700 U.S. hospitals and health systems. Learn more at practicegreenhealth.org.
Mason Health, Public Hospital District No. 1 of Mason County is ISO 9001 Quality Management System certified by Det Norske Veritas (DNV) and is a licensed and accredited acute care hospital with a level four emergency trauma designation. The Board of Hospital District Commissioners are Don Welander, President, Darrin Moody, Secretary, and Lori Brady, Trustee. Mason General Hospital and Mason Clinic are ENERGY STAR® certified and Mason Health is the recipient of one Practice Greenhealth Environmental Excellence Award, three Partner for Change Awards, two Greening the Operating Room Awards, the Making Medicine Mercury Free Award and the 2025 Emerald Award. To learn more about Mason Health’s sustainability efforts, visit https://www.masonhealth.com/about/sustainability-environmental-stewardship. There are more than 100 physicians on staff in 19 specialties. For more information or to find a health care provider, visit www.masonhealth.com. To learn more about DNV, visit www.dnv.com/healthcare.