GOJO Recognized by Practice Greenhealth as Healthcare Champion for Change

GOJO, inventors of PURELL® Advanced Hand Sanitizer, has been recognized by Practice Greenhealth, the nation's leading healthcare community that empowers its members to increase its efficiencies and environmental stewardship while improving patient safety and care through tools, best practices and knowledge, as the winner of its 2015 Champion of Change Award. GOJO was honored for success in greening its internal operations and helping its customers and associates advance sustainable practices.

The Champion for Change Award honors businesses that supply the healthcare sector who have not only taken steps to improve their organization's green practices, they have gone the extra mile to help their clients and associates expand their sustainable practices as well.  

"At GOJO, we see sustainability as a journey requiring leadership, innovation and continuous improvement, and this award is a reflection of the progress we have made," says Nicole Koharik, GOJO's global sustainability marketing director. "We will continue to innovate and lead the industry by developing products and policies that add sustainable value for all of our stakeholders."

"The Champion for Change Award honors organizations that demonstrate leadership in reducing their environmental footprint," says Jeffrey Brown, executive director of Practice Greenhealth. "GOJO has extended their commitment beyond their internal practices to their clients and community to make even more of an impact."

The Champion for Change Award is reserved for organizational partners supplying healthcare products and services that are considerate of the earth and its resources. The winners of this award have achieved success in greening their own organization and have also assisted others who are committed to improving their environmental performance.

GOJO was recognized for its dedication to advancing its social, environmental and economic sustainability goals. Examples of this include:
•Social –GOJO positively impacts world health and enhances the quality of people's lives by helping reduce risks to health and well-being. GOJO provides solutions to hospitals to help decrease healthcare-associated infections through hand hygiene products and technology, including the GOJO SMARTLINK™ Hand Hygiene Solution. In addition, GOJO has worked with hospitals to identify a portfolio of products tailored to the healthcare industry that are environmentally friendly.
•Environmental – GOJO exceeded its 2015 sustainability goals, set in 2010, two years early. This resulted in the reduction of water usage by 50 percent, reduction in solid waste generated by 46 percent and reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 52 percent.
•Economic – GOJO works with many collaborative partners to create sustainable value through new practices, products and solutions to create economic value for customers, distributors, vendors, suppliers and other stakeholders through streamlined packaging and efficient shipping practices.

Another example includes a sustainable end-of-life program for old soap and sanitizer dispensers. Upon removal of the old dispenser, GOJO provides documentation to the customer that verifies the dispensers were recovered and recycled responsibly. To date more than 20,000 used dispensers have been recycled, which has resulted in diverting 10 tons of waste from landfills. In addition, for those facilities that inquire about re-use options, GOJO has shared its experience of transforming the used dispensers into birdhouses, piggy banks and more through fun craft projects.

GOJO received the award at the Practice Greenhealth Environmental Excellence Awards, which were presented in Portland, Ore., May 14, at the CleanMed Conference & Exhibition, the premier national environmental conference for leaders in healthcare sustainability.

Source: GOJO Industries