News

UC Davis Health has made a change to the way it collects and recycles used blue wrap from its operating rooms. The switch is meant to make the recycling process easier to track, easier to verify and better aligned with the organization’s sustainability goals.

Blue wrap is the blue plastic material used to keep surgical instruments sterile before they are used. Because it is used every day in operating rooms, it can add up quickly. Finding a responsible way to recycle it is one way UC Davis Health can reduce waste from daily hospital operations.

UC Davis Health has completed its Climate Action Plan, a campus-specific framework designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen climate resilience and support the continued delivery of safe, reliable health care at the Sacramento campus.

UC Davis Health has been recognized by Health Care Without Harm and Practice Greenhealth for progress toward the White House/HHS Health Sector Climate Pledge, an effort focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and building more climate-resilient health care operations.

UC Davis Health received a badge recognizing its work to track direct and indirect Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions against a baseline and appoint an executive-level lead responsible for mitigation and adaptation efforts.

Each year, UC Davis Health celebrates Earth Month with different events and programs throughout the month, and this year is no different.

The sustainability team welcomes you to join them at a variety of fun programs, including Earth Month Bingo, a Light Rail Field Trip, a Sustainability Walking Tour, and an exciting Earth Month Celebration.

The sustainability team hosted a celebration on April 15 in honor of Earth Month. Staff and students got the chance to learn about sustainable programs happening here at UC Davis Health and throughout the Sacramento region.

During the event, several departments provided information, hands-on experiences, and goodies to take home, all surrounding the ideas of sustainability.

For example, the Sustainability team handed out reusable utensil kits as part of an effort to reduce single-use plastic waste at UC Davis Health.

In recognition of National Small Business Week, May 3–9, 2026, UC Davis Health announced that it has signed the Healthcare Anchor Network’s Impact Procurement Commitment for 2026–30 for the first time, marking an important milestone in its ongoing efforts to strengthen communities through purchasing practices.

Readers may recall that back in February, a massive beehive formed on the eighth floor of the University Tower. The hive was not harming anyone, and since then, the colony moved to more suitable housing. (Note: The structure of the hive remains but is empty.)

The UC Davis Health Resilience Summary Report is now available in PDF form.

Practice Greenhealth has recognized UC Davis Health as a national leader in environmental sustainability for the fourth year.

“This is the highest level of national recognition we can receive for leadership in sustainability, and I am incredibly proud that we continue to be recognized with this distinction,” said Kristina Bair, sustainability director.

UC Davis Health Climate Action Plan (PDF)