Sustainability Practices in Hospitals: A Systematic Literature Review and Research Agenda

Melinda Ibrahim, Abdul Ghofar, Lilik Purwanti and Syaiful Iqbal

SAGE Open, 2025, vol. 15, issue 3, 21582440251357033

Abstract: Hospitals face significant challenges in implementing sustainability practices to mitigate operational impacts in the post-pandemic era. This study aims to comprehensively analyze the existing literature on hospital sustainability practices and identify gaps to guide future research. A total of 62 articles published from 1988 to 2023 in the WOS and Scopus databases were systematically reviewed. The study presents sustainability performance metrics aligned with the triple bottom line (TBL) framework and highlights the complex of interactions between environmental, social and economic dimensions within the hospital setting. The findings are organized into four thematic areas: services continuity, sustainability systems and technologies, sustainability strategies for quality value, and waste minimization in hospitals. This comprehensive analysis reveals key gaps in the literature and proposes relevant directions for future research. From a theoretical standpoint, the study contributes to the contextual relevance and methodological rigor in sustainability research in healthcare. From a practical perspective, it offers a foundational framework for practitioners to better understand sustainability concepts and their implications for healthcare performance. Policymakers and regulators can also benefit form these insight to develop more effective policies aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3).

Keywords: hospital sustainability; systematic literature review; economic performance; social impact; healthcare environment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:sagope:v:15:y:2025:i:3:p:21582440251357033

DOI: 10.1177/21582440251357033

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