Green Deal for Sustainable Healthcare 3.0: collaboration as the key to a sustainable sector

The healthcare sector faces a major sustainability challenge. Responsible for 7% of national CO2 emissions and 18% of raw material consumption, the sector has a significant environmental impact. To address this, healthcare organisations, governments and market parties are joining forces in the Green Deal for Sustainable Healthcare 3.0. The new deal was officially signed during the WorkPlace Xperience 2025, with CFP Green Buildings among the signatories.

As a co-signatory, CFP supports healthcare institutions in taking concrete steps towards future-proof real estate. How? Yannick Heirbaut, Senior Consultant at CFP Green Buildings, shares his insights in this interview with Duurzaam Gebouwd.

Collaboration as the key to sustainable healthcare

How crucial is collaboration in making the healthcare sector more sustainable? That becomes clear in a conversation with Yannick Heirbaut.

CFP supports healthcare organisations such as ASVZ, AMC, Charim, and Amaris Zorggroep in making their real estate future-proof. “Healthcare providers generally have limited budgets for sustainability,” Yannick explains. “Understandably, the focus is on patients or clients, which makes it difficult to free up funding for sustainability. This is especially challenging now, with rising energy prices, inflation and staff shortages.”

Major investments, limited resources

The energy transition requires significant investments, while financial flexibility is often limited. According to Yannick, the solution lies in collaboration. By setting shared goals, as outlined in the Green Deal, organisations not only build more support, but also gain practical value. “Healthcare providers can learn from one another, especially from those who are further along. This sense of joint responsibility is more common in healthcare than in other sectors, where competition tends to play a larger role.”

Inzet op diverse thema’s

CFP contributes to several key themes of the Green Deal, including health, carbon reduction, and circularity. For example, health-promoting measures are integrated into sustainability strategies – such as better air quality, increased natural daylight and thermal comfort. CFP also supports nature-inclusive building to green healthcare environments. In terms of circularity, CFP advises on reusing materials, implementing materials passports, and designing for disassembly.

Creating insight

CFP also guides healthcare organisations with energy scans, roadmaps, and the implementation of energy-saving measures such as LED lighting, insulation, and heat pumps. “Digital tools like the Green Buildings Tool, CO₂ reduction plans and sustainability reports help organisations gain insight into the right steps to take in their sustainability journey,” Yannick continues.

He adds that in-person meetings, such as conferences, are essential to foster engagement. “Precisely because healthcare professionals are so busy, it’s important to step out of the day-to-day and reflect together. That’s when the space emerges to approach sustainability structurally. And seeing that others are doing it too – that’s motivating.”

The power of knowledge sharing

Learning from others is essential. “Some of our healthcare clients are just getting started with sustainability, while others are already far ahead,” Yannick explains. “There’s value in both – not only in what works, but also in what doesn’t. Knowledge sharing is key.” CFP acts as a connector in the sustainability network and actively seeks collaboration with industry associations, building managers and suppliers to ensure a smooth and effective sustainability process.

That’s why CFP also organises events where entrepreneurs, financiers and healthcare organisations come together to discuss current challenges, changing legislation and technological innovations – such as the Green Buildings Event and the CFP Innovation Day.