Food

Environmentally Sustainable Hospital Food Service

The impacts from food production, processing, transportation, consumption, and disposal have significant impacts on the environment and health of our communities. Leading health systems are aligning their food services, product sourcing, and staff/patient wellness efforts with their mission and core values.
Oakwell’s comprehensive services empower health systems to prioritize local and sustainable foods and beverages, reduce climate impacts, minimize food waste, and increase opportunities for healthy eating and wellness.

Cultivating a Sustainable Future With Oakwell

Working with Oakwell means your organization can join industry leaders in creating more sustainable food services and contribute to a healthier future — without sacrificing quality.
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Reduced Climate and Environmental Impact

Our strategies reduce the climate impacts of food services, minimize food waste and air and water contamination, and promote sustainable purchasing practices for a positive impact on health.

Cost Savings

Improved supply chain strategies, aggregated purchasing, reduced food waste, and optimized facility systems translate to lower operating costs for healthcare facilities.

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Improved Patient Care

Local, seasonal, nourishing, and delicious products provide healthier menu options and better outcomes for patients.

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Enhanced Patient & Staff Satisfaction

Sustainable and more equitable practices engage stakeholders, project a positive image, and contribute to a more conscious hospital environment with engaged stakeholders.

The Value of Sustainable Hospital Food Services With Oakwell

By implementing strategic standards and practices in a health system’s food purchasing, preparation, consumption, and disposal we can help your hospital support regional economies, promote improved nutrition and patient outcomes, and stay within budget through:

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Data Collection and Analysis

Oakwell takes advantage of cutting-edge technology to collect and analyze comprehensive food and beverage purchasing from across your facilities and vendors to streamline analyses.

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Local and Sustainable Sourcing

We encourage supply chain partnerships with food aggregators, distributors, local growers, and producers to purchase healthy, local, sustainably certified foods and beverages that support local food systems.

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Healthy and Climate-Smart Consumption

We create educational content and retail marketing strategies for engaging patients, staff, and visitors on the climate and health impacts of food choices and coming changes.

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Food Waste Reduction

We analyze food waste patterns to create strategies for menu planning optimization, preparation tracking tools, and portion control to minimize waste throughout the food service process.

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Organics Diversion Programs

We explore the feasibility of food donations, anaerobic digestion, or composting program systems to divert food waste from landfills.

By focusing on more environmentally sustainable hospital food services, health systems can create healthier patients and a healthier planet.

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