SINGAPORE — The National University Hospital (NUH) has been recognised in Newsweek and Statista's inaugural World's Greenest Hospitals 2026 ranking, receiving the highest five-leaf rating. NUH is the only Singapore hospital among six local institutions featured in the ranking to achieve this distinction and is one of just 36 hospitals globally awarded five leaves.
The ranking assessed 250 hospitals across 36 countries on sustainability performance, expert recommendations, sustainability-related certifications and achievements, commitments, and reporting transparency. Hospitals awarded five leaves were assessed to be among the strongest performers within the ranking's sustainability framework.
The recognition reflects NUH's broader efforts to embed sustainability across healthcare delivery, operations and infrastructure. In 2025, NUH became the first hospital in the world to receive the Healthcare Sustainability Certification awarded by Joint Commission International (JCI) and the International Hospital Federation's Geneva Sustainability Centre, recognising its progress in environmental impact, governance and health equity.
As part of its sustainability journey, NUH has committed to achieving a 60 per cent recycling rate by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2045. Initiatives undertaken include reducing plastic use across its campus, transitioning to lower-emission anaesthetic gases, optimising energy consumption in operating theatres, and introducing sustainable clinical practices that reduce waste while maintaining high standards of patient care.
Among its achievements, NUH has reduced plastic bag use at its pharmacies by more than 50 per cent, saving around 400,000 bags annually, and cut the use of a high-emission anaesthetic gas by 98 per cent, equivalent to removing more than 400 cars from the road each year. The hospital has also nearly achieved a 30 per cent reduction in waste, while more than doubling its recycling rate since 2020.
Through these efforts, NUH aims to demonstrate that environmental sustainability and high-quality healthcare can go hand in hand, supporting a more resilient healthcare system for future generations.
To download the PDF version of the media release, click here.
