Healthcare and sustainability can be combined. The data from the 2025 Sustainability Report of the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico di Roma show that the energy transition in “hard to abate” sectors such as healthcare is a reality, and AI can represent an important ally.
THE NUMBERS OF SUSTAINABILITY
In one year, the environmental impact of the Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico has significantly decreased, driven by the “Green Hospital Project” and the establishment of a multidisciplinary Green Team tasked with revolutionizing resource management. In 2025, the Campus Bio-Medico of Trigoria recorded a net reduction of -10,027 TJ of total energy consumed, -7% compared to 2024. “The goal is to reach a level below 100 TJ in 2026. We have completed the revamping of the trigeneration plant and the refurbishment of the thermo-refrigeration plant is underway, involving significant investments. The five key words of the new mission statement are: freedom, respect, benevolence, service, and well-done work,” said Paolo Sormani (on the left in the photo), CEO of Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico during the event “Artificial Intelligence and Sustainability: the Value of Innovation for Health,” on the occasion of the presentation of the 2025 Sustainability Report of the Foundation.
Furthermore, 54% of the electricity demand was generated directly on-site, drastically reducing dependence on the grid and maximizing the efficiency of internal systems. The remaining share of electricity that the Foundation must draw from outside is completely clean and certified. The dual track of self-production and green supplies has had a disruptive impact on the hospital’s carbon footprint. Scope 1 and Scope 2 Market-Based greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 4,546 tons of CO2 equivalent, equal to -44.6% in just one year.
WASTE MANAGEMENT
The sustainability strategy of the Policlinico Campus Biomedico has also invested in materials management. Waste produced in 2025 fell to 1,462 tons, registering a -6% compared to 2024. This achievement was also thanks to targeted technological solutions such as the introduction of the “secure print” system, which drastically cut paper waste along the value chain. The only sustainable indicator going against the trend concerns blue gold. Indeed, water consumption stood at 164 million liters (ML), marking a +10% compared to 2024. However, the increase is entirely due to the boom in healthcare services provided by the facility. To curb the phenomenon and optimize the resource, the Foundation has already started a massive installation of sensor-operated taps to eliminate waste.
THE ESG NUMBERS
The sustainability of the Policlinico Campus Bio-Medico is not only environmental but also social and technological. The Report highlights the achievement of 50% women in managerial positions (+1 percentage point) and a workforce composed of 62% female employees. 2025 was also the golden year for stable employment, with 238 new hires and as many as 127 permanent contracts (compared to 58 in 2024), supported by cutting-edge welfare platforms and the Gender Equality Plan (GEP).
IS AI THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE?
The future of the Policlinico Campus Bio-Medico lies in total digitalization (the “Digital Hospital”) through a multi-year plan that leverages Artificial Intelligence as a strategic lever, cybersecurity, and the Kaleido Story platform.
“Sustainability is a way of interpreting reality and a criterion to guide our daily choices. AI is a powerful lever to significantly advance diagnosis, care pathways, and service organization. Sustainability must above all be value-based,” said Carlo Tosti, (on the right in the photo) President of Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico.
Proactive medicine is the future because it allows the use of data to prevent treatment, according to Rocco Papalia, Rector of Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma. In other words, AI is a fundamental ally in data analysis. Therefore, we should not fear it but focus on self-consumption to feed its energy hunger, according to Maria Alessandra Gallone, President of Ispra. We must accelerate on renewables, nuclear power, and WEEE recycling, according to Gallone.
THE ISSUE OF HUMAN-MACHINE INTEGRATION
It is essential to design human-machine integration as soon as possible. Indeed, companies that consciously design collaboration between humans and AI are 2.5 times more likely to achieve better results. This emerges from the Deloitte study presented by Roberta Ghilardi. “7 out of 10 leaders indicate as their main competitive strategy in the next three years the ability to quickly adapt to changes in context, market, and customer needs.”
More than 80% of these same business executives expect stable and positive performance. Furthermore, most foresee revenue growth in 2026, supported by investments in core technologies, expanded digital offerings, and AI-based tools. Technology will not take jobs away from people, reassured the Rector of Luiss Guido Carli University, Paolo Boccardelli. The issue is to ensure that productivity is not concentrated only on technology developers. “To ensure it is distributed fairly, human capital skills must be strengthened by making training mandatory at all levels. We cannot invest only in AI training but also in the disciplines and cognitive tools that enable critical thinking at a high level,” he specified.
THE RISKS OF AI IN MEDICINE
The spread of AI in medicine also raises ethical risks and risks increasing healthcare inequality. Methodological rigor, clinical validation, and careful governance are needed. In this regard, the ministry is working on modifying indicators, the national health plan, and the three-year health research plan, explained Luca Padua, General Directorate of Research at the Ministry of Health. “There are three goals we are working on: moving immediately from the laboratory to the clinic, promoting the dissemination of scientific evidence among IRCCS and then nationwide. Genomics will have enormous development with AI. We are also working to increase the connection between researcher and clinician; AI can help in this regard,” he added.
The healthcare service is experiencing a moment of apparent calm before the storm, warns Andrea Urbani, Director of Health and Social Health Integration of the Lazio Region. Without different governance tools, we will not be able to maintain the guarantees we have today due to the aging population. “We are working on the national health plan; the novelty will be a great bet on primary prevention. Innovation has significant costs that we will have to make efficient. We also need to systematize all the responses spent in healthcare,” he emphasized.
