At the Downs Veterinary Practice we are keen to reduce our impact on the environment. We recognise that the health of animals, humans and the environment are inextricably linked, and that environmental degradation affects the health and wellbeing of employees, animal health and welfare and public health. We are committed to improve our environmental performance in relation to our services, product recommendations and operations inline with environmental and professional legislation.
We aim reduce the environmental impact of our clinical work and to encourage more sustainable practice amongst clients, colleagues and suppliers across all aspects of our business. We aim to enable our staff to develop their sustainability knowledge and apply it in our shared goal of creating a more sustainable practice. We have done this by putting suggestion lists on notice boards and encouraging staff to raise new suggestions and ideas.
We are committed to reducing our carbon footprint by:
Practising responsible resource use
- Reducing our consumption of energy, water, fuel, anaesthetic gases, paper and other resources – we will do this by remembering to turn appliances off and considering the use of renewable energy.
- Promoting and supporting sustainable travel where possible – supporting walking, cycling and public transport use by staff and clients.
- Improving waste management by reducing disposable materials such as single use plastics where possible.
- Using paper free management systems where possible and recycling paper materials.
- Making sustainable choices when purchasing and repairing equipment or consumables.
- Review and optimise waste management: reduce, re-use and recycle.
Being sustainable in our operation
- Use evidence based infection control measures and minimise use of ecotoxic chemicals.
- Minimise the greenhouse gas impacts of anaesthetic agents.
- Prioritising the health and wellbeing of our employees
- Promoting biodiversity in our surroundings and enhance our green spaces.
- Promote animal welfare.
- Working with suppliers/contractors with sustainable goals
Using medicines responsibly
- Promoting health plans and the responsible use of antimicrobials and parasiticides
- Avoiding drug wastage through good stock control and ensuring safe disposal to avoid ecotoxicity.
Encouraging and empowering our team and clients/local community
- We have appointed 2 sustainability champions; Alicia Smith RVN and Hannah Mathison RVN to lead and empower our practice to become greener.
- We will share our sustainability journey with our clients and community.
- We recognise that good health and wellbeing supports all aspects of practice operations and will empower our staff to make changes.
