Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital

Hallym University Medical Center is the first domestic medical institution to participate in the ‘Carbon Neural Practice’ program promoted by the Korea Environment Corporation.

Korea Environment Corporation’s point system for ‘Carbon Neutral Practice’ program is a system planned to spread citizen’s cultural practice for carbon neutrality. Citizens who practice eco-friendly activities in their daily lives are given carbon neutral practice points according to their performance and points can be used as credit card reward points or cash.

Hallym University Medical Center participates in the program under ‘electronic receipt’ category among eco-friendly practice. If paid by mobile and receives the electronic receipts at 4 affiliated hospitals under HUMC such as Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital and Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital, it automatically connects to Korea Environment Corporation system and the ‘carbon neutral practice points’ pile up.

The participation methods are as follows. First, the patient signs up at the ‘Carbon Neutral Point-Green Living Practice’ website, and pay through notification message that is sent after receiving the medical treatment. After the electronic receipts are automatically issued, 100 Korean Won per receipt is piled up and can be used as cash.

Four hospitals under HUMC issued 5.38 million receipts in 2022. If 2.6g of carbon is emitted per sheet of A4 paper, this means that 14 tons of carbon is emitted just by issuing paper receipts.

If electronic receipts are issued through this project, it is possible to plant up to 1,727 30-year-old pine trees that absorb 8.1 kg of carbon per year.

Hallym University Medical Center declared “Eco Hallym” in 2008 and has continued ESG activities which not only faculty members but also patients and guardians can actively participate in eco-friendly activities. From 2021 for the decrease of carbon, it has taken the lead in eco-friendly activities by implementing the ‘Gamtan’ project.

Executive Director Hee Sung Yoon of Hallym University Medical Center said, “By establishing a paperless hospital through this program, not only carbon emissions but also waiting time for payment can be reduced, helping to alleviate the inconvenience patients feel at the hospital.” He also added, “We will continue to fulfill our social responsibilities by developing various ESG-related projects.

By Eunbee Cho, Int’l Cooperation Team, HUMC (sandrabee@hallym.or.kr)