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A responsible environmental policy

For the commissary, which covers a very wide range of products including dry goods with the exception of pharmaceutical and medical products, and fresh and frozen produce for the kitchen, priority is given for the ordering of articles which are certified environmentally friendly and biodegradable. Various departments of the Clinique work with the same suppliers, for food and for products, and so efforts are also made to streamline orders and group deliveries to avoid unnecessary transport where possible. By the same token, the Clinique gives priority where possible to Swiss and European suppliers. The result has been highly satisfactory, with delivery times reduced fourfold for Europe compared with Asia. The bottom line for the environment is therefore very positive.


Dry goods
As is the case for fresh produce and the majority of frozen food, all dry goods used carry the GRTA (Geneva Region – Land of the Future) certification, created by the State of Geneva in 2004 as a way of identifying local produce. The certification label is for all agricultural products at every stage of processing, from harvesting right through to consumption. The flour used in the Clinique’s restaurant for example comes from the Moulin de la Pallanterie flour mill.


Cleaning products
The cleaning products for the floors used at the Clinique, for example, even the greasy kitchen floors, are thorough whilst still respecting the environment, as they are extremely diluted. Automatic dispensers have been fitted to the cleaning equipment to make tasks easier for staff and to avoid any wastage that would damage the environment.


Paper
The paper used is certified by the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) – an environmental label certification that ensures that the production of wood or a wood-based product follows the necessary procedures to guarantee sustainable forest management. Respect of the environment as far as the Clinique is concerned also involves gestures such as only printing documents when it is absolutely necessary.


Waste-sorting and security
Waste is carefully sorted into containers provided to that effect, and information to create awareness of this is regularly provided to all relevant people (kitchen, cleaning staff etc.). The medical officer at the Clinique takes samples of each product used to check that it conforms to the most rigorous hygiene and security standards.
 

Energy management
With the Clinique consuming a great deal of energy, in-depth audits have been carried out in conjunction with the SIG since 2008 to reduce energy costs and also CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. Means of optimizing the heating and ventilation circuits, electricity and air flow are regularly analysed in terms of consumption, with the results enabling the technical department to carry out adjustments to each piece of equipment. For example, the various parameters of the forced air system (supply, temperature, humidity etc.) are all verified and adjusted. The cooling system was also high in consumption, and has since been changed to a "free cooling" system which uses outside air instead of four compressors to produce cold air for machinery and cool the medical rooms. The outside electric heaters have also been changed to increase output and reduce consumption. Energy management also includes the lighting, with a Knx automation system, while a weather control panel has been implemented on the roof to regulate the opening and closing of the outside blinds based on the time of day. The glass has also been changed, in particular at the Radiology Institute, while the insulation of certain areas of the building has been adjusted. Lastly, the management software for the various technical infrastructures are regularly updated, with the aim of using ECO indicators which can identify any excess consumption in the equipment. This commitment accompanied by constant investment, and despite energy demand trending upwards due to the increased surface area, means that the Clinique’s consumption is constantly being optimized. The impact is not only financial, it is also – and primarily - environmental. Furthermore, the Clinique has signed the Négawatts charter created by the SIG, who are close partners of ours when it comes to optimizing our processes.


Waste disposal