Environmental Stewardship in Critical Care

Critical care is resource-intensive field by nature. ICUs operate around the clock, rely on complex technologies and single-use supplies, and consume significant energy, water, and material resources. As healthcare organizations increasingly consider their environmental impact, SCCM believes the critical care community has an important role to play in identifying practical, patient-centered approaches to environmental stewardship. 

SCCM’s work in this area is still developing. As a starting point, the Society’s Environmental Sustainability Task Force has published foundational work on environmental sustainability in ICUs and is now exploring how to build on that foundation in a thoughtful, mission-aligned way. 

Industry partners are also navigating many of these same questions, including how to reduce waste, improve resource efficiency, support sustainable innovation, and operate responsibly within a highly regulated, safe critical healthcare environment. 

The introductory virtual meeting will bring together SCCM leaders, members of the Environmental Sustainability Task Force, and invited industry representatives for a high-level conversation about environmental stewardship in critical care. The meeting is designed to be informational and exploratory. Participants do not need to prepare a formal presentation. 

During the call, SCCM will: 

• Share background on the Society’s interest in environmental stewardship in the ICU 
• Highlight SCCM’s early work and emerging areas of focus 
• Invite industry feedback on priorities, challenges, and opportunities 
• Explain how interested organizations can continue the conversation through future listening sessions

This initiative is intended to create space for early dialogue between SCCM and industry partners with an interest in environmental stewardship. 

This is: 

• An introductory, exploratory conversation 
• A chance to learn more about SCCM’s initial work in this area 
• An opportunity for industry partners to share priorities, challenges, and perspectives 
• A first step toward identifying where shared interests may exist

 This is not: 

• A sales presentation 
• A sponsorship solicitation 
• A commitment to any formal partnership 
• An endorsement of any company, product, service, or sustainability claim

SCCM will use insights from these conversations to better understand the current landscape and identify potential areas where the Society may be able to support education, research, implementation, convening, or other mission-aligned activities.

SCCM’s Environmental Sustainability Task Force was formed to explore concrete, actionable ways that ICUs can reduce environmental impact while preserving high-quality patient care. 

Foundational Research: In 2025, the Task Force published its first major report in Critical Care Medicine, SCCM’s flagship journal. The report reviews existing evidence on environmental sustainability in critical care and outlines opportunities for ICUs to reduce environmental impact without compromising patient outcomes. 

Ongoing work also includes: 

• ICU Waste Audit: A structured review of waste generated in ICU settings to help identify high-impact reduction opportunities 
• Sustainability Survey: A member-wide survey assessing clinician attitudes, current practices, and barriers related to sustainability in critical care 
• International Collaboration: Engagement with critical care societies around the world to benchmark practices and explore shared approaches 
• Industry Listening Initiative: This structured effort to better understand how industry partners are approaching environmental stewardship and where shared priorities may exist

SCCM does not have a fixed roadmap for future industry engagement in this area. That is intentional. Early conversations with industry partners will help the Task Force better understand where there may be meaningful opportunities for alignment. 

Future engagement could include: 

• Continued dialogue with SCCM’s Environmental Sustainability Task Force 
• Private listening sessions with interested organizations 
• Participation in future roundtables or working discussions 
• Collaboration on education, research, implementation, or awareness activities 
• Support for SCCM-led environmental stewardship initiatives 
• In-person conversations during SCCM’s Critical Care Congress 
• Any future opportunity would be explored collaboratively and only where there is genuine mutual interest and appropriate alignment with SCCM’s mission.