We’ve seen countless news stories about global climate change and its connection to wildfires, extreme rainfall, intense heat waves, and melting glaciers and ice sheets. Scientists predict even more profound effects unless action is taken everywhere to protect the Earth and its inhabitants. While everyone on the planet should be concerned about the escalating consequences of climate change, veterinarians have a responsibility to act. By taking the Veterinarian’s Oath, we swore to conserve animal resources and promote public health. Our vow means we play a crucial role in mitigating climate change’s impact and helping to ensure a healthier future for animals and people.
Dr. Diccon Westworth, a member of the Veterinary Sustainability Alliance leadership team, said the veterinary industry has numerous ecological impacts. These include waste pollution, microplastic eutrophication, land-use change, freshwater use and antimicrobial resistance. According to estimates, the U.S. health care industry accounts for about 8.5% of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions, almost double the global average.
Registered veterinary nurse Terry George, a key member of the Australia-based group Vets for Climate Action, explained the three types of emissions:
- Scope 1: Emissions released by veterinary practices, such as volatile anesthetic gases and from fuel used in vehicles.
- Scope 2: Emissions from the burning of fossil fuels such as coal and gas. Practices indirectly contribute through the electricity, heating and cooling they purchase.
- Scope 3: Emissions produced by external suppliers, such as pet food and pharmaceutical companies.
How Sustainability Benefits Veterinary Practices
Implementing sustainable measures provides tangible advantages for practices, including:
- Saving money: Simple changes, such as switching to LED lights and reducing water waste, can optimize energy use and significantly reduce utility costs. Additionally, reducing single-use plastics and sourcing eco-friendly materials in bulk can decrease supply costs while minimizing waste. According to George, a 30-minute waste audit saved Australia’s Brimbank Veterinary Clinic $500 over three months.
- Attracting clients: A survey by Colorado State University Professor Dr. Colleen Duncan, a member of the Veterinary Sustainability Alliance leadership team, found that 85% of pet owners believe climate change is real and that most believe the effects influence their pet’s health. Most respondents also said they expect veterinarians to be knowledgeable about the topic and were willing to pay more for services from a sustainable clinic.
- Improving employee satisfaction and retention: People often feel more engaged and motivated when they work for a business that prioritizes ethical and sustainable practices. “People who care about this issue care a lot, and they feel better about their workplace when it has values and takes actions that align with their personal values,” Dr. Duncan said. She also noted that involving interested team members in your sustainability efforts and integrating these tasks into their job descriptions can create opportunities for staff engagement and boost team morale.
Getting It Done
Becoming more environmentally sustainable might seem overwhelming, but organizations such as Vets for Climate Action and the Veterinary Sustainability Alliance offer resources to help facilitate the process.
Here are four strategies you can use to create a greener veterinary practice.
1. Form a Team
A dedicated green team can provide the collaboration needed to tackle the many actions required to make your clinic more sustainable. Dr. Westworth recommends involving employees from all departments to ensure a diverse range of perspectives and skills. The Northern California veterinarian also emphasized the importance of having management’s support to enhance the coordination of resources and ideas.
2. Assess Your Clinic’s Ecological Footprint
Audit your practice’s energy usage, waste production and resource consumption to identify areas for improvement. The Veterinary Sustainability Alliance website offers a carbon calculator to help clinics account for their environmental and carbon impacts.
“Coming together and starting the conversation is one of the most important things,” Dr. Duncan said. “It’s important to take an inventory and determine which levers are available to pull.”
Once you define the desired actions, establish measurable goals so you can determine whether your strategy is making the progress you want.
3. Implement High-Priority Sustainability Actions
A practice can take actionable steps by:
- Reducing energy consumption and switching to renewable sources.
- Sourcing eco-friendly supplies that use minimal packaging made from sustainable materials.
- Minimizing waste, including pharmaceutical leftovers, and reviewing waste management protocols.
- Enhancing water efficiency.
- Promoting sustainable transportation.
“Energy use and transport are the areas we have the most control over that make the biggest immediate impact,” Dr. Westworth said. “In our practice, we transitioned to a 100% renewable solar and geothermal net-zero emission electricity source and purchased e-bikes for staff use.”
George recommends vetting suppliers by asking:
- Do you measure your carbon footprint?
- Do you have an emissions target?
- Do you have an emissions-reduction plan?
- Do you purchase carbon credits?
- Do you have a sustainable packaging plan?
- Do you have a zero-emissions delivery plan?
Will moving toward a more sustainable practice impact the quality of veterinary care?
“The majority of your ecological footprint comes from non-veterinary factors,” Dr. Duncan said. “No one is suggesting compromising patient care, but simply making some high-level behavior changes.”
4. Build Awareness and Advocacy
According to the Veterinary Sustainability Alliance’s “Pathway to a More Sustainable Clinic” downloadable poster [bit.ly/3HuSb4j], sustainability in veterinary medicine goes beyond implementing eco-friendly routines. Veterinary professionals should inspire others to achieve the same outcomes by:
- Sharing your experience: Discussing your sustainability journey can educate and motivate colleagues, clients and industry partners.
- Building connections: Engaging with professional networks, allied health sectors and sustainability-focused organizations fosters the exchange of ideas, resources and strategies.
- Advocating for policy change: Veterinarians have a unique platform to promote animal health, welfare and sustainability to key decision-makers. Advocating for greener legislation and ethical practices ensures a more sustainable future for everyone.
Sustainability in the veterinary industry is necessary to reduce the environmental impact and ensure the long-term health of animals, people and the planet. From reducing waste and energy consumption to advocating for greener policies, every step toward sustainability strengthens the future of veterinary care.
WHAT YOUR PRACTICE CAN DO
Conserve resources by:
- Switching to LED lighting.
- Using motion sensors for lighting in low-traffic areas.
- Turning off equipment when it’s not in use.
- Using programmable thermostats.
- Installing low-flow water fixtures.
- Installing solar panels or adopting renewable energy sources.
Reduce travel-related emissions by:
- Offering incentives to team members who switch to an electric vehicle, carpool or use public transportation.
- Purchasing supplies locally.
- Consolidating incoming shipments.
- Providing telemedicine to reduce client travel.
Choose sustainable products and vendors by:
- Transitioning to green anesthesia.
- Promoting eco-friendly pet products and food.
- Using natural fabrics instead of synthetic textiles.
Minimize waste by:
- Practicing good inventory management.
- Switching to reusable sharps containers.
- Rolling foil from suture and scalpel packets into a softball-sized ball for easier recycling.
LEARN MORE
- MWI Animal Health sustainability initiative: mwiah.com/sustainability
- Pet Sustainability Coalition: petsustainability.org
- Vet Sustain: vetsustain.org
- Veterinary Sustainability Alliance: veterinarysustainabilityalliance.org
- Vets for Climate Action: vfca.org.au
QUOTABLE
- Australia veterinarian Dr. Jeremy Watson, who chairs a Vets for Climate Action advisory committee: “Vet teams are guardians of and advocates for animal health. Being more sustainable is a practical way to reduce our impact on the environment and provides leadership and inspiration to pet owners, farmers and wildlife carers.”
- Colorado State University Professor Dr. Colleen Duncan, a member of the Veterinary Sustainability Alliance leadership team: “Small things, like proper inventory management, can make a big difference. We all have things that get shoved in the back and then expire, creating waste. Some of the recommendations about making your practice more sustainable are simply ways to make your practice more efficient and less wasteful.”