A balancing act: embedding environmental best practice

Growing Awareness of Environmental Responsibility

Awareness is increasing about the essential role the business sector must play to create a fairer, environmentally sound, and nature-rich world. The veterinary sector, in particular, faces challenges from climate change, such as the spread of zoonotic diseases, invasive species, and disrupted natural patterns. Farming communities served by veterinarians are under pressure to produce affordable food while adapting to climate impacts, rising costs, and antimicrobial resistance risks affecting animal and human health.

Challenges in Veterinary Sustainability Practices

Despite growing willingness in the veterinary sector to act, many organizations struggle to start or develop coherent environmental strategies. Disjointed efforts—like upgrading recycling systems, changing light bulbs, or creating staff well-being programs—often fail to deliver measurable progress. Successful environmental management requires a focused and systematic approach addressing key action points balancing environmental performance with animal, human, and community health.

Support and Frameworks Available

An expanding range of sustainability resources and guidance is available for the veterinary sector. Professional bodies and organizations such as Vet Sustain offer sector-specific training, including Carbon Literacy programs. Accreditation schemes provide structured frameworks for practices to measure improvements, build internal capabilities, and gain independent third-party environmental performance evaluations.

Practical Environmental Improvements in Veterinary Practices

Members of initiatives like the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment's (iiE) program reduce their environmental impact realistically and effectively with tailored support, toolkits, and expert advice. Veterinary practices face complex challenges like maintaining strict hygiene while reducing resource use and waste. Common focus areas include managing anesthetic gases, a significant carbon emissions contributor, and minimizing paper and single-use plastic consumption.

Case Study: Paragon Veterinary Group

Paragon Veterinary Group in Cumbria exemplifies successful sustainability embedding. With 64 full-time staff, they have significantly reduced their environmental footprint over five years. Notably, they manage a three-hectare native broadleaf woodland, enhancing local biodiversity with wildflower meadows, hedgerows, and bog habitats. These efforts aim to improve soil health, water quality, and carbon sequestration guided by advice from forestry and environmental experts.

"Paragon Vets has comprehensively embedded sustainability into how it works and has made significant progress in reducing its environmental impact across a range of areas in the past five years."
— From the Paragon Veterinary Group case study

The article highlights that environmental responsibility in veterinary practices requires more than isolated efforts; it demands structured, supported programs and long-term commitment to balance sustainability with animal and human health care.

more

Vet Times Vet Times — 2025-11-26

More News