Introduction and Objective Hospital healthcare systems are widely recognized as significant producers of hazardous waste. We make to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and their specific targets. Our focus is directed towards Goal 12 of responsible production and consumption. In 2022, at the University Hospital Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá and its branches, we generated a total of 748,639 kg of waste, with 63% classified as hazardous and 37% as non-hazardous. During the pandemic, intensive care units emerged as one of the main generators of hazardous waste. In response to this situation, a strategy is proposed, consisting of the continuous implementation of actions aimed at reducing waste generation and increasing its utilization.

Method The Green Teams strategy was established. These are groups of collaborators who voluntarily come together and focus on detecting and addressing sustainability challenges in the company's daily activities.

Phase 1: Formation and training of the primary team Phase 2: Presentation of activities by each of the members Phase 3: Implementation of activities

• Recycling and reusing medication bags returned to the pharmacy.

• Recycling medication caps.

• Recycling IV bags.

• Zero plastics in ICU.

• Optimization of different waste bins.

• Waste reduction.

Results Improvement in waste disposal: 48 unused trash cans were removed, resulting in the cessation of bag usage for these cans, saving 144 bags per day, 4,320 per month, and 51,840 per year. This means we are no longer consuming these bags, which were used in previous years, resulting in water savings equivalent to that used in the manufacturing of bags for approximately 31 households and energy consumption equivalent to that of 33 households per year. Additionally, these activities lead to a reduction in CO2 emissions by 2,135.808 units.

Conclusions The monitoring and tracking of actions to reduce waste and promote savings, carried out by a multidisciplinary team, allows for a positive impact on high-risk environments such as intensive care units. Initiating activities in the most critical area of a hospital facilitates the replication of environmental impact initiatives in other less critical area of a hospital facilitates the replication of environmental impact initiatives in other less critical areas of the medical center.