We’re delighted to announce that our hospital has been awarded the Investors in the Environment Silver award!
NDSR joined the Investors In the Environment (iie) scheme to help reduce our carbon footprint. A core team of environmental enthusiasts at the practice have implemented changes across the hospital that are making a real difference to our impact on the environment.
What we’re doing…
Reducing Waste
We measure our energy use and waste production and hope to reduce these by 2% each year. Our surgery department is very proactive in trying to reduce surgical waste. One of the big steps we have taken is to invest in metal sterilisation instrument containers. This means we no longer need to use wrapping to package instruments.
Eliminating Greenhouse Gases
Our anaesthetists have reduced our anaesthetic gas usage by using low flow techniques and have created some CPD for referring practices to help explain how this is possible. Anaesthetic gases are greenhouse gases and the worst offender is nitrous oxide. Although relatively small amounts are released, it has a high ‘global warming potential’ (310 times that of carbon dioxide). Nitrous oxide also damages the ozone layer, thus reducing the protection offered from harmful UV sun rays. We are working to eliminate the use of this gas from our practice as there are better alternatives.
Recycled Packaging
One of our other projects has involved recycling pet food sachets. We wash, dry and pack our empty pet food sachets and take them to our local Terracycling centre. Terracycling is a scheme to recycle the ‘unrecyclable’. The waste is sent in boxes to Terracyle where it is sorted and repurposed into new products instead of being sent to landfill. If you would like to drop them off at our practice, we will happily take them. Otherwise, please see the terracycle.com website for more details and to find your local centre.
Zero Landfill
With COVID guidelines and the increased use of PPE such as single use masks and aprons, we have seen an increase in our waste production.
The great news is that Terracycle have some zero waste PPE boxes that have now arrived ensuring none of these items end up in landfill.
Our vision is to ultimately become carbon neutral
We have just started our journey and are enthusiastic that if, across the veterinary sector we all make small changes, together we can make a big difference. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or if you are considering joining the scheme yourself.
Please see our ‘Green Group’ Environmental Policy for Sustainability.
Nicola Kulendra
EBVS® European Specialist in Small Animal Surgery and NDSR Green Champion
Case Advice or Arranging a Referral
If you are a veterinary professional and would like to discuss a case with one of our team, or require pre-referral advice about a patient, please call 01883 741449. Alternatively, to refer a case, please use the online referral form