Clean Air Success Stories
SSM employee demonstrates environmental commitment at home and at work
Article courtesy of the St. Louis Regional Clean Air Partnership
For Barbara Briggs, compassion for the environment has always come naturally. So, it only seemed fitting that she’d settle into a career at SSM Health Care, which serves as a model of corporate environmental consciousness.
Currently Corporate VP – Corporate Responsibility, Briggs joined SSM in 1998. A nature-lover committed to preserving living things, Briggs was impressed with SSM’s progressive environmental policies, which include requiring each SSM entity to sponsor a Preservation of the Earth committee to lead environmental initiatives.
“The Preservation of the Earth committees started in the early ‘90s when SSM decided to eliminate the use of Styrofoam cups,” said Briggs. “Seeing how this small change could make a difference, SSM wanted to explore other ways to reduce waste and improve the state of our planet.”
Soon after joining SSM, Briggs became a member of the Preservation of the Earth committee at SSM’s corporate office, helping to develop unique initiatives to reduce waste. Recent initiatives include collection drives for items like used holiday decorations, purses, briefcases, clothes and jewelry. The items are available to other employees, and any unclaimed items are donated to charities. Recycling bins are also provided for paper, aluminum/steel cans, plastic bottles, shopping bags, cell phones, eyeglasses, light bulbs, CDs, magazines and chipboard – making recycling easy for those living in communities without recycling programs. In 2007 alone, SSM facilities recycled over 6.6 million pounds of materials.
Last June, SSM’s facilities eliminated the purchase and use of bottled water, becoming one of the few healthcare organizations to do so. In 2004, SSM also became the largest health system in the nation to go tobacco-free inside and out.
In addition, SSM’s corporate office has landscaped its grounds with native plants, and the organization also recently celebrated the completion of a new hospital in Fenton, Mo., which was built to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) specifications. LEED is a certification system used by the U.S. Green Building Council to rate green buildings.
SSM keeps its employees informed on air quality as a member of the St. Louis Regional Clean Air Partnership (The Partnership). Briggs serves on The Partnership’s advisory committee, helping to develop initiatives to increase awareness of regional air quality issues and encourage activities to reduce emissions. She also works with SSM’s Preservation of the Earth committee to distribute air quality information throughout the corporate office.
“Since joining the advisory committee, I’ve learned a lot about the health effects of poor air quality and how simple changes we make can improve it,” said Briggs. “Whether it’s choosing to reuse and recycle, using mass transit or planting native plants, these small choices can make a difference.”
To learn how you can improve the region’s air quality and help St. Louis breathe easier, visit www.cleanair-stlouis.com or call the American Lung Association at (314) 645-5505, ext. 1007. For information on SSM Health Care, visit www.ssmhc.com.
