8 steps to creating a sustainable veterinary practice
By MWI Animal Health
By adopting sustainable practices, veterinarians can help support eco-friendly practices while reducing their clinic’s environmental impact, streamlining operations, and attracting clients who prioritize environmental responsibility. A study published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science found that more than 50 percent of pet owners stated they would pay more for veterinary services at a clinic that has reduced its environmental impact. The study also discovered that 85 percent of cat and dog owners indicated concerns about the climate, and two-thirds of participants said they value knowing whether a clinic is reducing its environmental impact.
How can you make a difference with your eco-friendly efforts? Here are eight easy ways to make an impact and demonstrate your clinic's commitment to sustainability.
1. Embrace reusable totes
Switching to reusable delivery totes can drastically reduce waste. One enterprise client switched to MWI Animal Health sustainable totes and avoided more than 104,000 pounds of corrugated cardboard.
The client had about 100,000 totes delivered, which avoided using 17,660 pounds of paper, 8,250 pounds of Styrofoam, and 2,950 pounds of plastic. Reusable tote delivery avoided the production of 290,000 pounds of CO2e greenhouse gases. 1
Traditional deliveries involve multiple cardboard boxes filled with single-use Styrofoam and other packing materials. Reusable totes have reusable liners, eliminating the need for single-use containers and significantly reducing landfill waste.
Additionally, these totes provide a more organized and efficient delivery process, with the added benefit of building personal relationships between clinic staff and couriers when they drop off and pick up totes weekly.
“Reusable totes are durable and help prevent a clinic’s dumpster from filling up with packing material. Going from single-use packaging to totes with a three-year life cycle saves waste and recycling costs. Plus, deliveries are more consistent with dedicated couriers,” said Meggan Harris, Senior Director, Commercial Delivery Leader for MWI Animal Health.
2. Consolidate orders
Order consolidation is a simple yet effective strategy for improving a practice’s sustainability efforts. When a practice receives multiple order shipments per week, it creates more cardboard and packing waste and more carbon emissions from delivery trucks. Streamlining deliveries to once or twice per week cuts down on the amount of packing materials used and truck hours on the road. MWI Animal Health offers automatic order consolidation, so veterinary practice managers don’t have to think about consolidation. No matter how many orders a clinic submits during the week, it combines orders into one or two delivery days. Order consolidation decreases transportation-related emissions and saves the team valuable time that they can spend on patient care and other critical tasks. Veterinary practices can save up to 40 percent of their time with order consolidation.1
3. Seek out innovative packaging solutions and products
One significant contributor to waste in veterinary practices is packaging materials. MWI Animal Health addressed this issue with auto-packers that efficiently pack orders in customized cartons. Packing cartons are custom-sized to eliminate excess packaging waste while protecting the items inside them. Seeking and working with partners that use innovative packaging solutions can help minimize a clinic’s environmental footprint.
When selecting certain products for your clinic, try picking ones that are sourced from recycled materials or from vendors committed to sustainability. MWI’s Online Store marks its sustainable offerings, making it easy to make smart choices.
4. Go paperless
Transitioning to paperless operations is an effective way to reduce your practice’s environmental impact. Around 26 percent of total waste in landfills is paper waste. Digital medical records, online appointment bookings, and electronic billing can substantially reduce paper waste. Clients also appreciate the convenience of digital communication, which reinforces the clinic’s commitment to sustainability. AllyDVM's client engagement platform helps you easily communicate with clients via email, two-way text messaging, paperless newsletters, and more. Embracing this and other digital communications technology, like a branded practice app, lets you communicate directly with pet parents without adding creating additional paper waste.
5. Implement recycling programs
Recycling can occur in all areas of the clinic, not just deliveries. Maximize your region's recycling offerings to ensure that you recycle as much material as possible. Contact a local waste pickup service to recycle paper, plastic, glass, and metals. Food composting services are also available in many urban areas to help compost food waste from break rooms. Educate clinic staff on proper recycling practices and place bins conveniently throughout the facility to make recycling easy.
Beyond recycling, your practice can also make a difference by donating unused, yet still viable medical supplies or equipment to a local animal shelter or the ASPCA. This act of generosity benefits the animals in their care and keeps products from landfills.
6. Reduce water usage
Conserving water is another way to build a sustainable veterinary practice. Install low-flow faucets, toilets, and other water-saving devices in the clinic to help reduce water usage. Also consider installing a water station for refillable water bottles. This helps staff stay hydrated while cutting down on single-use plastic bottles. Another tip is staying mindful of water consumption during routine cleaning and sterilization processes. Training staff on water conservation practices can significantly impact the clinic’s overall environmental impact.
7. Inform clients about sustainability efforts
Make sure you let clients know about your clinic’s sustainability efforts. Use your clinic’s website, social media channels, and in-clinic signs and materials to communicate the practice’s environmental commitment. Highlight the benefits of sustainable practices, such as reduced waste and efficient delivery schedules. Clients with ecological concerns will appreciate the efforts and may become more likely to choose and stay with the practice for their pets’ care.
“Integrating sustainability strategies like reusable totes and consolidated order delivery can reduce environmental impact, save money, and build stronger client relationships. Sustainability isn’t a trend; it’s an intelligent business strategy that benefits clinics, clients, and the environment,” Harris said.
8. Find the right business partner
An effective sustainability strategy starts with choosing the right partners. Find and collaborate with suppliers and distributors committed to reducing waste, minimizing emissions, and using sustainable materials. When a practice aligns with like-minded businesses, it can reassure clients that its supply chain supports environmental responsibility and that the practice cares about the climate as well as the patients in its care.
