The widely anticipated Veterinary Carbon Calculator, which is the first specifically tailored to the environmental impacts of veterinary practice, will enable vet teams to easily calculate their carbon emissions for the first time.
Developed by Vet Sustain in partnership with Investors in the Environment (iiE), the calculator is also supported by the British Veterinary Association (BVA), the British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA), British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) and Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons (SPVS).
The calculator breaks down carbon emissions into various elements of business activity, such as utilities, travel and veterinary care waste.
Once a baseline carbon footprint has been calculated, practices can set a baseline and track measurable progress.
The veterinary carbon calculator will help practice teams make positive changes to their business operations by providing essential understanding.
British Veterinary Association President Malcolm Morley said: “The Veterinary Carbon Calculator is a vital tool that will support practices in their journey to becoming more sustainable which will benefit the planet, but can also enhance workplaces too by saving money and resources but helping to recruit and retain staff.”
April Sotomayor, general manager of iiE added: “The calculator will help teams understand some of their carbon hotspots, and comes with simple advice on how to take action to reduce emissions.
“Year-on-year calculations will also help practices benchmark their progress and experience the benefits good environmental stewardship brings to their business.”
Past BVA President and current chair of Vet Sustain Gudrun Ravetz said: “Having a bespoke veterinary carbon calculator available and used by practices is another great step forward for the profession on its sustainability journey.”
To find out more about the calculator visit the website.
For more suggestions on how to become more sustainable visit the Greener Veterinary Practice Checklist or search #GreenTeamVet.
