Lauren Koch - How Change Actually Shows Up in Patient Rooms

Lauren Koch, Sustainability Senior Program Manager at Mars Veterinary Health, is a passionate advocate for purpose-driven work and a champion for sustainability in the healthcare sector. She delves into her impactful work, sharing how she has successfully navigated the complexities of both human and animal healthcare to create lasting, sustainable change.

Lauren gives us an inside look at her passion for driving waste reduction responsible pharmaceutical stewardship, and more, Lauren explains the unique ways biodiversity is addressed in the veterinary world, from creating pollinator gardens at clinics to ensuring the proper disposal of pharmaceuticals to protect local ecosystems.

She provides a masterclass in advocating for sustainability within large organizations, detailing projects focused on recycling, waste prevention through reusable sterilization tins, and reducing the carbon footprint of anesthetic gases. Lauren draws fascinating parallels between her current role and her previous work at the OSU Wexner Medical Center, sharing the powerful story of a two-year project to implement reusable sharps containers, a seemingly simple change that diverted 70 tons of waste annually. Finally, Lauren reflects on what keeps her optimistic, highlighting the deep commitment to sustainability at Mars and the power of working for a purpose-driven company.

Episode in a glance

00:57 Lauren’s Role at Mars Veterinary Health
03:03 What is Biodiversity in the Veterinary World?
06:19 The Net Zero Journey in Healthcare
10:34 A Champion Story The Reusable Sharps Container Project
16:41 The Immense Scale of Healthcare Waste
21:51 What Keeps Lauren Hopeful and Optimistic

About Lauren Koch

Lauren Koch is the Sustainability Senior Program Manager at Mars Veterinary Health, where she leads initiatives to create a more sustainable future for pets, people, and the planet. With a diverse background that spans business, public policy, and environmental science, she is a passionate advocate for data-driven strategies and collaborative action. Lauren's journey is a powerful reminder that a career with impact is always within reach if you're willing to ask questions, build relationships, and never stop learning.

Connect with Lauren Koch and her work:

Lauren Koch LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-koch-oh/

Mars Veterinary Health → https://marsveterinary.com

Mars Veterinary Health Sustainability Report → https://www.marsveterinary.com/media/uploads/2025/01/Mars-Veterinary-Health-2024-Environmental-Sustainability-Report.pdf

Green Building Article → https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283624285_Energy_performance_of_campus_LeedR_buildings_Implications_for_green_building_and_energy_policy

Health Care Without Harm → https://noharm.org/

Practice Greenhealth → https://practicegreenhealth.org/

Green Columbus → https://www.greencbus.org/

FLOW (Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed) → https://www.olentangywatershed.org/

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