The healthcare sector can have a significant impact in improving the environment in a number of crucial areas, according to a blog on the Environmental Leader website.

The key question, according to Kathy Gerwig of Kaiser Permanente, is can environmental stewardship coexist with the pressure to cut costs? 

The answer is yes — and it can help reduce healthcare costs for everyone, the blog said.

A recent study published by the Commonwealth Fund found that if the healthcare industry conserved energy, reduced waste and more efficiently purchased operating supplies, it could save more than $15 billion over 10 years.

"While these numbers are impressive, the importance of sustainability in healthcare cannot be boiled down to just the bottom line. We have to remember that greening the healthcare industry does not just save money, it also saves lives and makes care more affordable for everyone," Gerwig wrote.

Read the article.