St James’s Hospital Awarded Green Flag for Sustainability Leadership

L-R: Prof. Mary Day, CEO, St James’s Hospital, Barry McKenna, Sustainability Manager, St James’s Hospital, Valentina Stampa, An Taisce, Aideen Cardiff, St James’s Hospital board member and Aidan Turley, Director of Facilities Manager, St James’s Hospital.

St James’s Hospital Awarded Green Flag for Sustainability Leadership

St James’s Hospital has become the first acute hospital in Dublin to receive the internationally recognised Green Flag, marking a major milestone in sustainable healthcare.

Awarded through the Green Campus Programme by An Taisce, the Green Flag recognises long-term commitment to environmental responsibility. Since joining the programme in 2018, the hospital has implemented a comprehensive sustainability framework across energy, water, transport, and waste.

Some of the key achievements include; 34% improvement in energy efficiency, 34% reduction in carbon emissions, 42% reduction in water usage, significant increase in staff using sustainable transport and major improvements in waste management, including a 68% drop in clinical waste.

Led by Sustainability Manager Barry McKenna and supported by dedicated green teams across departments, the hospital’s efforts have been praised by assessors for their impact across a large and complex site.

“This Green Flag is more than a symbol, it reflects our deep commitment to greener practices while providing patient care,” said Mary Day, CEO of St James’s Hospital. “We’re proud to lead by example as we build a modern, co-located health and research hub.”

As Ireland’s largest acute academic teaching hospital, the award positions St James’s Hospital as a national leader in climate-conscious healthcare, setting a benchmark for other institutions across Ireland.