Graphic outlines ways vets and RVNs may consider becoming more sustainable.
Leading veterinary organisation have joined forces to launch a new green checklist for practices that encourages more sustainable ways of working.
Vet Sustain, the BVA, the BVNA and SPVS have designed the shareable Greener Veterinary Practice Checklist infographic to help veterinary teams drive change at their workplace.
It includes four areas of action that cover practising responsible resource use, being sustainable in your operation, using medicines responsibly, and sustaining the team. Under each theme is a list of ways veterinary professionals can work to meet these actions.
“Veterinary professionals and members of the vet-led team are extremely well-positioned to show leadership in sustainability, in their workplaces and in their communities,” commented Vet Sustain founder and director, Laura Higham. “Our new checklist helps veterinary teams to put their sustainability intentions in to practice, through a number of practical steps that will ultimately support the wellbeing of our patients, ourselves and the natural world.”
The checklist comes after a 2019 BVA Voice of the Veterinary profession Survey found that 89 per cent of vets would like to play a more active role in the UK's sustainability agenda.
BVA junior vice president Justine Shotton said the checklist is a great place to start for any veterinary team wanting to work in a more environmentally friendly way.
“BVA recently published its own environmental policy, and with efforts from our staff ‘green team’, I am proud that we were able to work through several of these points before we drew it up,” she said. “At this challenging time, we know that trying to work more sustainably can seem like a daunting task, but we hope that this checklist will help make it easy to get started on the road to a more sustainable practice.”
BVNA president Jo Oakden added: “Environmental Sustainability is really important to us at the BVNA; we are currently going through the process of Environmental Accreditation. Veterinary Nurses are ideally placed to get involved and drive eco-friendly changes within the veterinary practice.
“The Greener Practice Checklist is a brilliant guide showing where to start. We all want to drive a positive environmental change, but sometimes it can feel a bit overwhelming when you don’t know where to start. This checklist is hopefully giving us a place to start and a link into further resources to keep driving and evolving the positive changes we are making.”
SPVS senior vice president, Anna Judson said: "SPVS is delighted to have been involved in the creation of the Greener Veterinary Practice Checklist. We remain committed to supporting the profession with ongoing environmental sustainability CPD."
Two independent vets have launched a podcast to help owners strengthen their bond with pets. Dr Maggie Roberts and Dr Vanessa Howie, who have worked in both veterinary practice and major charities, are keen to use their experience to enable people to give pets a better life.
