Sustainable Practice

We’re doing our bit to help the environment

We’re committed to reducing our carbon footprint, working in an environmentally friendly way and protecting our planet.

Over the past few years, we’ve been working hard to help make our practice more environmentally friendly. So, what have we been up to?

Recycling and reusing

  • We switched to recycled paper for printing, and we print double sided whenever possible to save paper.
  • We have recycling bins in all of our consult rooms and offices, and encourage our team members to use reusable water bottles and coffee cups while at work.
  • We switched to biodegradable dog poo bags and recyclable packaging on all our consumables, where possible. The paper packaging for all our syringes and needles is also recyclable.
  • We use recyclable sterilisation pouches for our sterilisation equipment.
  • Medication is handed out in recyclable paper dispensing bags.
  • We use wood-based, biodegradable cat litter for our feline patients.
  • Since the Covid19 pandemic, we have been recycling all our non-contaminated PPE (masks, aprons and gloves) via TerraCycle.
  • We are part of a pet food packet recycling scheme.
  • Our confidential waste is collected, shredded and then recycled.
  • We use reusable and washable cloths over paper towels, where appropriate.
  • Our buster collars are made from 80% recycled plastic and are 100% recyclable.

Reducing plastic use

  • We buy large bottles of ultrasound gel, washing up liquid, hand soap, hand sanitiser and cleaning solutions to decant into reusable plastic bottles.
  • Our milk is delivered in glass milk bottles, instead of plastic bottles.
  • We now use recyclable cardboard pharmaceutical bins for responsible and environmentally friendly medication disposal.
  • We use reusable fabric surgical drapes where appropriate, which can be sterilised for each patient.
  • We use environmentally friendly companies and wholesalers, where possible.
  • We use bamboo toothbrushes to clean our clipper blades.
  • When our plastic dog and cat food and water bowls need replacing, we replace them with a bamboo alternative.
  • We use biodegradable paper cotton buds or bamboo cotton buds, whenever possible.
  • We use the Ecosia search engine on all our computers. Ecosia donates 80% of their profits to plant trees where they are needed most.
  • We encourage clients to use oral flea/worm medications, where possible.

Supporting wildlife

  • We took part in the Bee Friendly Practice scheme, and crated a wildlife-friendly flower garden for bees and other insects to benefit from.
  • We grow our own herbs for our rabbit and guinea pig patients.

Reducing energy and water use

  • We encourage our team to switch off appliances when not in use, and to be mindful of our water usage.
  • We have a water purifier and reusable plastic bottles to make our own sterile water for our sterilisation machines.