BVNA honoured for sustainability efforts
“We are hoping to lead by example so that other veterinary nurses will be inspired to think about what they do at their practice" - Alex Taylor, BVNA president.
The BVNA has reaffirmed its commitment to improving sustainability after winning an award for the steps it has already taken to reduce its carbon footprint.
The Organisation has been awarded the Bronze certificate from Investors in the Environment (IIE), a national environmental accreditation scheme that aims to help organisations save money, reduce their impact on the environment, and get promoted for their green credentials.
Since registering with the IIE scheme in 2020, BVNA has reduced its in-person meetings from six a year to two in-person and four virtual and has consequently slashed its carbon emissions by half.
“This has been a real team effort; growing every single BVNA team members awareness of the impact we each have as an individual when it comes to being environmentally sustainable,” said BVNA’s senior vice president, Jo Oakden. “This is just the start as we will continue to be involved with driving environmental sustainability forward and encouraging our members to do the same.’
BVNA president Alex Taylor, whose theme this year is resilience, confirmed the Organisation’s commitment to continue the good work. She said: “I am incredibly proud that the BVNA has achieved the Investors in the Environment Bronze Certificate. We have put lots of measures in place to reduce our carbon footprint and improve sustainability here at the BVNA and it has paid off.
“Senior vice president Jo Oakden has led the way with her 2020-2021 theme of ‘sustainability’, and as a result, we will endeavour to continue to learn and improve in any way we can to improve how sustainable we are as an association. I would like to thank our office and accounts manager Angela Mariconda, who has put so much effort into driving change at the BVNA so that we achieved this accreditation.”
She added: “We are hoping to lead by example so that other veterinary nurses will be inspired to think about what they do at their practice, how it might affect the environment and then look at different ways to improve environmental sustainability, which is something we all need to be mindful of."
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
