Sustainability Policy

Our Commitment

At Grange Vets, we are committed to providing outstanding veterinary care while recognising our responsibility to minimise our impact on the environment. As a multi-site veterinary practice comprising a hospital and five branch practices, we understand that our operations consume energy and resources and generate waste. We are committed to continually reducing our environmental footprint without compromising patient care or clinical excellence.

Sustainability is embedded within our practice values, and we are committed to making environmentally responsible decisions through continual improvement, staff engagement, and collaboration with our clients and suppliers.

This policy is shared with all members of our team and is available to clients via our website and upon request.

Our Environmental Objectives

We aim to:

• Reduce our carbon footprint through responsible energy use.
• Minimise waste and maximise recycling.
• Reduce unnecessary travel and associated emissions.
• Promote responsible use of medicines and clinical resources.
• Reduce the environmental impact of anaesthetic procedures.
• Purchase goods and services from environmentally responsible suppliers where possible.
• Increase staff awareness and engagement in sustainable practices.
• Comply with all relevant environmental legislation and continually improve our environmental performance.

Our Key Environmental Impacts

We recognise that our principal environmental impacts include:

• Energy consumption (electricity, heating and cooling)
• Water consumption
• Staff, client and supplier transport
• Use of anaesthetic gases
• Clinical and non-clinical waste generation
• Medicines and pharmaceutical waste
• Procurement of goods and services
• Paper and office consumables
• Recycling and Waste Reduction Plan
• Reducing waste is a key part of our environmental strategy.

We are committed to:

• Correctly segregating clinical, pharmaceutical and general waste in accordance with current legislation.
• Providing recycling facilities for paper, cardboard, plastics, cans and other recyclable materials
• Recycling medication packaging, empty blister packs and eligible soft plastics.
• Pet food packaging recycling programmes.
• Encouraging clients to return unused or expired medications to the practice for safe disposal, helping to prevent environmental contamination and ensuring medicines are disposed of responsibly.
• Reducing paper consumption through the use of digital clinical records, electronic communications and double-sided printing where printing is necessary.
• Encouraging the reuse of appropriate materials and reducing unnecessary single-use products wherever clinical standards allow.
• Regularly reviewing our waste streams to identify opportunities for further waste reduction and increased recycling.
• We recognise the environmental impact of pharmaceuticals and anaesthetic gases and are committed to reducing this wherever possible.

We will:

• Practise low-flow anaesthesia whenever clinically appropriate to reduce the consumption of anaesthetic gases while maintaining the highest standards of patient safety.
• Minimise medicine waste through effective stock control and responsible prescribing.
• Encourage clients to return unused or expired medications to the practice for safe disposal.
• Continue to review our anaesthetic protocols and adopt environmentally responsible practices where clinically appropriate.
• Sustainable Travel
  • As a practice consisting of one hospital and five branch practices, we actively work to reduce unnecessary travel.
  • Arrange medication collections from the branch practice closest to the client’s home.
  • Offer appointments and follow-up visits at the most convenient practice location to reduce travel distances for clients.
  • Plan staff travel efficiently to minimise unnecessary journeys between sites.
  • Encourage walking, cycling, public transport and car sharing wherever practical.
  • Utilise virtual meetings where appropriate to reduce business travel.
  • By making use of our branch network, we aim to reduce transport emissions while maintaining convenient access to veterinary care.
• Energy and Water Management
  • Switching off lights, computers and equipment when not in use.
  • Using energy-efficient lighting and equipment wherever practical.
  • Maintaining heating and cooling systems to maximise efficiency.
  • Monitoring utility consumption and identifying opportunities for improvement.
  • Conserving water through responsible use and prompt repair of leaks.
• Sustainable Procurement
  • Purchase products with reduced environmental impact.
  • Consider recycled, recyclable or sustainably sourced materials.
  • Minimise unnecessary packaging.
  • Work with suppliers who demonstrate environmental responsibility.
  • Consider environmental performance alongside quality, safety and value when making purchasing decisions.
• Staff Engagement and Training
  • Environmental sustainability is everyone’s responsibility.

We are committed to:

• Sharing this policy with all members of the practice team.
• Encouraging staff to contribute ideas that improve sustainability.
• Providing environmental awareness and sustainability training where appropriate.
• Reviewing our environmental performance regularly.
• Supporting continual learning and best practice.

Our Practice Manager has completed Carbon Literacy training and helps lead our sustainability initiatives, ensuring environmental considerations remain an integral part of practice decision-making and continuous improvement.

Biodiversity and Community

Where opportunities exist, we will support biodiversity and our local communities by:

• Maintaining and enhancing green spaces around our premises where practical.
• Supporting local environmental initiatives.
• Encouraging environmentally responsible behaviour among staff and clients.
• Monitoring and Continuous Improvement

We are committed to continual improvement by:

• Reviewing this policy annually.
• Setting realistic environmental objectives and monitoring progress.
• Measuring opportunities to reduce waste, increase recycling and lower energy consumption.
• Keeping up to date with environmental legislation and veterinary sustainability guidance.