Healthcare facilities consume significant resources and generate substantial waste, making sustainability an important part of responsible healthcare. At KPJ Kajang Specialist Hospital, sustainability is not only about reducing environmental impact, but also about creating meaningful value for the people and community.
The Green Balcony @ KPJ Kajang, launched in August 2025, is the hospital’s flagship sustainability initiative. The project transformed an underutilised hospital balcony into a productive and attractive urban hydroponic farm, demonstrating how limited space can be transformed into an opportunity for environmental action.
The project comprises five Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) hydroponic systems with 320 pots, enabling the cultivation of leafy vegetables such as salad greens, bayam and pak choy, with crops ready for harvesting within approximately 3–4 weeks. The initiative was developed in collaboration with MARDI Corp, with the partnership officially launched together with KPJ Kajang’s top management.
Beyond growing vegetables, the Green Balcony aims to cultivate a culture of sustainability among staff. Workshops and hands-on training provide employees with practical exposure to urban farming and sustainable practices, encouraging them to become active participants in the hospital’s sustainability journey.
The project has also demonstrated tangible outcomes. Approximately 14.4 kg of salad greens were harvested in August 2025, followed by approximately 24 kg of bayam and pak choy in September 2025, with harvest volumes continuing to grow throughout 2026. Over the year since its launch, the project has generated an estimated RM2,000 in value from harvested produce, demonstrating how sustainability initiatives can create both environmental and economic value.
The initiative further supports sustainable consumption through an on-site fresh market, where vegetables can be made available to staff, consultants and visitors. By producing fresh vegetables within the hospital, the project promotes local and sustainable food production while providing staff and visitors with access to freshly harvested produce.
Most importantly, the Green Balcony demonstrates that sustainability can extend beyond environmental benefits. It creates a greener environment for healing, encourages staff engagement, supports knowledge-sharing and creates economic value, while making productive use of existing hospital infrastructure.
Growing food, growing awareness, growing value
The Green Balcony @ KPJ Kajang represents KPJ Kajang’s commitment to creating a healthcare environment where people, planet and purpose grow together.