All Resources

Guidance Document: Environmental Stewardship Within Leadership Standards
CASCADES
2026
A guidance document on meeting accreditation standards, by creating connections between the standards and environmental stewardship.
Guide

Formalin Recycling Circuit Protocol
Maggie Chen, Western University & London Health Sciences Centre
Formalin represents a significant source of chemical waste in pathology laboratories, with both its production and disposal carrying substantial environmental and financial costs. This resource outlines the formalin recycling methodology piloted within the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Department at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC). The initiative involved collecting and reusing clear formalin from surgical pathology biopsy specimens for subsequent use in the autopsy suite. Based on the results of this one-month pilot, projections indicate that expanding the protocol across all workstations for a full year could enable LHSC to save more than $3,000 annually in procurement costs while preventing 2,170 kg CO₂e emissions. By documenting and sharing this approach, we aim to support the operationalisation of sustainable waste management practices across other pathology departments and hospitals. For additional information or to request the final report and detailed results, please contact maggiee.chen@mail.utoronto.ca.
Protocol

Waste Audit and Reclassification Protocol
Western University & London Health Sciences Centre
Hospitals frequently overclassify biomedical waste, resulting in unnecessary environmental impacts and increased disposal costs. This resource outlines the waste audit and reclassification methodology developed and implemented by staff in autopsy suite of London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC). Following this protocol, the initiative achieved a 56% reduction in annual waste disposal emissions and a 62% reduction in disposal costs, preventing 1427 kgco2e from being released into the atmosphere annually. By documenting and sharing this approach, we aim to support the operationalisation of sustainable waste management practices across other pathology departments and hospitals. For additional information or to request the final report and detailed results, please contact maggiee.chen@mail.utoronto.ca.
Example Protocol



Case-Based Module: Planetary Health for Family Medicine Residents and Teachers – Applying a planetary health lens to clinical encounters
Temerty Faculty of Medicine, DFCM, University of Toronto
Course

Planetary Health for Family Medicine Residents and Teachers
Temerty Faculty of Medicine, DFCM, University of Toronto
Course

2025 Report – Summer Institute on Sustainable Health Systems
CASCADES
Through guided learning activities, meetings with local sustainability leaders and nation-wide panel discussions, the Summer Institute aimed to develop trainee knowledge, leadership skills and capabilities, and build professional, interdisciplinary networks of trainees and professionals with interests in sustainable health systems.

