The partners of the DAPHNE project (Decarbonising healthcare in EU regions) participated in a study visit to the University Hospital of Leuven on March 20-21, 2025. The aim of the visit was to learn about the advanced decarbonisation strategies being implemented at the largest hospital in Belgium, which could be adapted in other countries involved in the project. The meeting also provided an opportunity to exchange experiences and foster closer interregional cooperation.
The event began on March 20 with a hybrid project meeting held at the headquarters of the Ministry for Public Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment. The meeting focused on best practices in decarbonisation and sustainability in hospitals. Project partners shared examples and solutions identified in their respective regions, providing valuable introduction to the study visit. The in-person meeting was attended by partners from Belgium, Romania, Italy, Poland, and Sweden, while partners from Greece joined the event online.
On the second day, participants visited the UZ Leuven University Hospital, located approximately 30 km from Brussels, where they had the opportunity to learn about practical examples of sustainability initiatives. Representatives of the Flemish Department of Healthcare presented, among other things, a system of subsidising energy audits for healthcare facilities such as hospitals and nursing homes, as well as mechanisms supporting environmentally friendly initiatives, including participation in European-funded projects.
Next, a representative of VEB – the Flemish Energy Company – presented the TERRA online platform, which is used by public institutions to record emissions and plan sustainability actions. The platform enables systematic monitoring of progress through the regular input of energy consumption data. Another presentation was delivered by representatives of UZ Leuven Hospital, who provided a detailed overview of the comprehensive sustainability plan for the entire campus. This plan covers a range of areas, including energy and climate, water management, waste management and food, mobility, sustainable procurement, biodiversity, and infrastructure. he main part of the presentation focused on the first pillar, under which the hospital is actively working to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions.
In the afternoon, participants took part in a site visit on the hospital campus. They had the opportunity to see how UZ Leuven is expanding its infrastructure in line with sustainable development principles. The visit showcased various initiatives aimed at enhancing biodiversity around the campus, promoting eco-friendly mobility through the development of public transport and cycling infrastructure, as well as other innovative solutions supporting the hospital’s sustainability strategy.
The study visit to the University Hospital in Leuven provided DAPHNE project participants with valuable inspiration and practical examples of implementing decarbonisation and sustainability measures in the healthcare sector. Partners had the opportunity to learn about both systemic solutions supporting the energy transition and to observe the results of concrete actions implemented by a leading medical institution in Belgium. The experiences and good practices gathered serve as an inspiring support for further efforts to implement innovative environmental solutions across the regions participating in the project.
The project is co-funded by the EU Interreg Europe program. The sole responsibility for the content of this publication lies with the DAPHNE project and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Union.
