Environmental Sustainability: Caring for Animals, Caring for Our Planet
At Connaught House Veterinary Hospital, we believe that caring for animal health goes hand in hand with caring for the environment. We are committed to reducing the environmental impact of our practice while continuing to provide the highest standards of veterinary care.
Sustainability is an ongoing journey, and we continually review how we work to minimise waste, reduce our carbon footprint and make responsible choices for the benefit of our patients, clients and the wider community.
Our Commitment
Environmental sustainability is integrated into the day-to-day running of our practice through our Environmental Sustainability Policy and regular review of our working practices. Our dedicated Sustainability Champions work alongside the whole team to encourage environmentally responsible behaviours, promote sustainable initiatives and identify opportunities for continual improvement.
We recognise that delivering excellent veterinary care and protecting the environment should go hand in hand. Wherever it is safe, practical and clinically appropriate, we aim to make choices that reduce our environmental impact without compromising the quality of care our patients receive.
What We’re Doing
We are continually introducing practical measures to reduce our environmental impact while maintaining the highest standards of patient care. These include:
· Maintaining electronic clinical records to reduce paper use.
· Using an electric van for small animal visits
· Encouraging digital communication with clients, including electronic invoices, reminders and information where appropriate.
· Using motion-sensor LED lighting throughout the practice to reduce unnecessary energy consumption.
· Recycling paper and cardboard and other suitable materials wherever facilities allow.
· Carefully segregating clinical, recyclable and general waste to maximise recycling and ensure waste is disposed of responsibly.
· Managing pharmaceutical stock carefully to minimise waste and reduce expired medicines.
· Encouraging staff to reduce unnecessary printing and minimise energy consumption throughout the practice.
· Considering environmental sustainability when purchasing equipment and consumables, wherever this is compatible with providing safe, high-quality patient care.
· Regularly reviewing our environmental performance and identifying new opportunities for improvement.
Responsible Waste Management
Healthcare waste requires specialist handling to protect both public health and the environment. We work with a carbon-neutral waste management provider, to ensure our waste is managed responsibly.
Through this partnership:
· No waste is sent directly to landfill.
· Recyclable materials are recovered wherever possible.
· Residual waste is processed through UK energy recovery facilities, generating useful energy instead of contributing to landfill.
Looking Ahead
Environmental sustainability is a continuous process of improvement. We regularly review our working practices and look for new opportunities to reduce waste, improve efficiency and lower our environmental impact.
Our future goals include:
· Further reducing energy consumption across the practice
· Improving recycling and reducing the amount of waste we generate
· Continuing to explore environmentally responsible purchasing options
· Reducing unnecessary packaging and single-use materials wherever it is safe and practical to do so
· Supporting staff education and engagement in sustainable veterinary practice
· Reviewing our environmental objectives regularly to ensure we continue to improve
Every small improvement contributes towards a healthier environment, and we are proud to play our part in creating a more sustainable future for our patients, our community and the planet.
If you would like a copy of our environmental sustainability policy, please contact is on 01902 424725