ESG & Impact

Environmental, Social, and Governance excellence driving sustainable healthcare transformation

Our ESG Framework

CARE9’s approach to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) excellence is built into every aspect of our operations, from facility design to supply chain management to clinical service delivery.

Five Pillars of ESG Excellence

E1: Energy, Emissions & Water Use

Commitments:

  • Green hospital design (LEED, ISO 14001 standards)
  • Solar-powered diagnostic hubs and facilities
  • Low-water footprint manufacturing
  • Carbon emissions reporting (Scope 1, 2, and 3)
  • Energy-efficient equipment procurement

Targets by 2028:

  • 50% of facilities solar-powered
  • 30% reduction in carbon intensity
  • 40% reduction in water consumption per bed
  • 100% of new facilities green-certified

E2: Sustainable Procurement & Waste Management

Commitments:

  • Biomedical waste disposal standards (WHO guidelines)
  • Electronic waste management programs
  • Zero-liquid-discharge pharmaceutical manufacturing
  • Cold-chain optimization to reduce emissions
  • Sustainable packaging initiatives

Targets by 2028:

  • 100% biomedical waste properly disposed
  • 80% reduction in single-use plastics
  • Zero liquid discharge from manufacturing
  • 50% sustainable packaging materials

S1: Equitable Access & Health Outcomes

Commitments:

  • Alignment with UN SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)
  • Universal Health Coverage (UHC2030) support
  • Reduced outbound medical travel (saving foreign exchange)
  • Rural and underserved population focus
  • Affordable pricing structures

Targets by 2028:

  • 500,000+ patients served annually
  • 30-40% reduction in medical travel
  • 60% rural population coverage
  • 100K+ cancer screenings in underserved areas

S2: Workforce Development & Local Inclusion

Commitments:

  • Local hiring mandates (70-80% local workforce)
  • Healthcare worker training and certification
  • Youth employment and internship programs
  • Women in healthcare leadership
  • Fair wages and working conditions

Targets by 2028:

  • 5000+ healthcare workers trained
  • 80% local workforce participation
  • 40% women in leadership positions
  • 2000+ youth employed

G1: Governance, Compliance & Transparency

Commitments:

  • ISO 37001 (Anti-Bribery Management Systems)
  • ICH-GCP compliance in clinical research
  • HIPAA, NDHM, GDPR data protection
  • Independent audits and certifications
  • Whistleblower protection programs

Standards Adherence:

  • Transparent financial reporting
  • Board oversight of ESG metrics
  • Regular stakeholder engagement
  • Grievance redress mechanisms
  • Ethical supply chain management

Global Standards Alignment

IFC Performance Standards (1-8)

  • Environmental and social risk management
  • Labor and working conditions
  • Resource efficiency and pollution prevention
  • Community health, safety, and security
  • Land acquisition and involuntary resettlement
  • Biodiversity conservation
  • Indigenous peoples’ rights
  • Cultural heritage protection

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  • SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
  • SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
  • SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
  • SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
  • SDG 13: Climate Action
  • SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

WHO Green Hospitals Guidelines

  • Energy efficiency
  • Water conservation
  • Waste management
  • Sustainable procurement
  • Healthy food services
  • Alternative transport
  • Green building design

Industry-Specific Standards

  • SASB: Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology)
  • GRI: Global Reporting Initiative (Healthcare Sector)
  • TCFD: Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures
  • CDP: Carbon Disclosure Project

ESG Governance Structure

Board-Level Oversight

  • ESG & Impact Committee: Quarterly board reviews
  • Audit Committee: ESG risk assessment
  • Remuneration Committee: ESG-linked executive compensation

Management Structure

  • Chief Impact Officer: ESG strategy and execution
  • Regional ESG Champions: Market-specific implementation
  • ESG Working Groups: Cross-functional teams
  • External Advisory Council: Independent guidance

Reporting & Transparency

  • Annual ESG/Impact Report
  • Quarterly metrics dashboards
  • Third-party verification
  • Stakeholder consultations
  • Public disclosure of key metrics

Impact Measurement Framework

Health Outcomes

  • Patients treated and screened
  • Survival rate improvements
  • Reduced disease burden
  • Quality of life metrics

Economic Impact

  • Local jobs created
  • Import substitution value
  • Foreign exchange savings
  • GDP contribution
  • Tax revenues generated

Environmental Metrics

  • Carbon emissions (tCO2e)
  • Water consumption
  • Waste diverted from landfills
  • Renewable energy usage
  • Green building certifications

Social Indicators

  • Healthcare workers trained
  • Women employed and in leadership
  • Youth employment
  • Community health programs
  • Patient satisfaction scores

Governance Metrics

  • Board diversity
  • Ethics training completion
  • Audit findings and resolution
  • Compliance certifications
  • Grievance cases resolved

ESG-Linked Financing

CARE9 actively pursues ESG-linked financing instruments:

  • Green Bonds: For renewable energy installations
  • Social Bonds: For healthcare access programs
  • Sustainability-Linked Loans: With ESG performance covenants
  • Blended Finance: Combining DFI, commercial, and donor capital
  • Impact Investment: Targeting measurable social returns

Partner ESG Requirements

We screen and monitor partners for:

  • Environmental management systems
  • Labor rights and working conditions
  • Anti-corruption policies
  • Human rights compliance
  • Community engagement practices

Stakeholder Engagement

Government Partners

  • Quarterly ministry reviews
  • Joint monitoring missions
  • Policy dialogue forums
  • Data sharing agreements

Communities

  • Community health committees
  • Public consultations
  • Grievance mechanisms
  • Local content programs

Employees

  • Anonymous feedback systems
  • Town hall meetings
  • Training and development
  • Whistleblower protections

Investors & DFIs

  • Annual ESG reporting
  • Site visit accommodations
  • Performance dashboards
  • Impact verification

ESG Risk Management

Environmental Risks

  • Climate change impacts on operations
  • Water scarcity
  • Waste disposal challenges
  • Energy price volatility

Mitigation: Renewable energy, water recycling, waste management systems, energy hedging

Social Risks

  • Healthcare workforce shortages
  • Community opposition
  • Patient safety incidents
  • Health equity gaps

Mitigation: Training programs, stakeholder engagement, quality management, pro-poor pricing

Governance Risks

  • Corruption in procurement
  • Data breaches
  • Regulatory non-compliance
  • Reputational damage

Mitigation: Anti-corruption training, cybersecurity, compliance audits, crisis management

ESG Reporting & Certifications

Current Certifications

  • ISO 9001 (Quality Management)
  • ISO 14001 (Environmental Management)
  • ISO 45001 (Occupational Health & Safety)
  • WHO-GMP (Pharmaceutical Manufacturing)

Pursued Certifications

  • ISO 37001 (Anti-Bribery)
  • LEED (Green Building)
  • NABH (Hospital Accreditation)
  • B Corporation Certification

Reporting Frameworks

  • GRI Standards
  • SASB Healthcare Standards
  • TCFD Recommendations
  • UN Global Compact

Download Our ESG Report: 2024 ESG & Impact Report (PDF)

Contact Our ESG Team: esg@care9.com