At Whiskers Vets, sustainability has been at the heart of our practice since our 2024 Environmental Policy. Last year, we set out clear commitments to reduce waste, improve resource efficiency, and operate in a more environmentally responsible way, guided by the Greener Veterinary Practice checklist from Vet Sustain.

As we move further into 2025, we are proud to report on the progress we have made, the new initiatives we’ve introduced, and the areas we are continuing to improve.

Building on Our 2024 Commitments:

In 2024, we committed to:

  • Practising responsible resource use – reducing electricity, paper, and water use

  • Improving operational sustainability – introducing digital systems and recycling wherever possible

  • Using medicines responsibly – safe disposal and minimising anaesthetic gas use

  • Empowering our team – ensuring all staff are involved in sustainability initiatives

Since then, we have implemented a number of new measures and made improvements in several key areas.

Energy Use

Building on last year’s initiatives, we continue to:

  • Turn off lights and computers when not in use

  • Keep air conditioning running only where necessary for medication storage

  • Run washing machines and dryers only when full

Paper Reduction and Digital Systems

We are continuing to transition to a largely paperless system:

  • Receipts, invoices, lab results, post-operative instructions, and written prescriptions are now sent via email unless requested otherwise.

  • Insurance claims are processed 90% digitally through email, VetEnvoy, or online platforms, unless a paper form is specifically required.

Recycling and Waste Management

Our recycling initiatives have expanded in 2025:

  • Medical and pharmaceutical recycling bin: A dedicated recycling bin allows us to responsibly dispose of empty blister packs, medication bottles, and syringes, reducing the amount of medical plastic waste sent for incineration. The collected plastics are sent to an advanced recycling facility and fully repurposed.

  • General recycling: Syringe/needle packaging, drip bags, autoclave wrap, food tins, and office paper are recycled wherever possible. Sharps bins made from recycled plastic are also used.

  • Pharmaceutical waste Bio-Bin: We have just launched a more eco-friendly bio-bin to replace the plastic bins previously used. This bin is designed for prescription-only and out-of-date medicines, empty vials and denatured drugs. By using this bin, we can safely dispose of pharmaceutical waste while reducing the environmental impact of our operations.

Greener Clinical Operations

We continue to improve the environmental impact of our clinical work:

  • Reusable surgical gowns and scrub hats.
  • Standard operating procedures for the safe removal of anaesthetic pollutants.
  • Updated analgesia protocols using multimodal approaches to reduce anaesthetic gas use.
  • Switching from ACP premedication to alpha‑2 agonists where possible.
  • Use of Sterilium to reduce water consumption during surgical prep.
  • Eco-friendly gloves: We have switched to a new supplier whose gloves are designed to biodegrade in landfill, reducing the environmental impact of single-use clinical items.

Sustainable Products

This year, we have focused on sustainable materials and products:

  • Buster collars are now made from recycled plastics

  • Clinical staff uniforms are made from a blend of recycled polyester with each top equivalent to seven recycled plastic bottles, creating a comfortable, flexible, and eco-friendly uniform.

Environmental Initiatives

We have also expanded our efforts beyond the practice:

  • Partnered with Ecologi and Tree-Nation to plant 52 trees so far.

  • Continued to research sustainable options for gloves, aprons, laundry products, cat litter, and other consumables.

Ongoing Priorities

Our commitment to sustainability is ongoing. Key areas of focus for 2026 include:

  • Further reducing single-use plastics and exploring bioplastic alternatives.

  • Fully implementing a paperless client communication system.

  • Continuing to track and reduce our carbon footprint.

  • Researching alternative waste disposal options for our clinical waste to avoid sending it for incineration.

This 2025 update demonstrates how we are building on the foundation laid in our 2024 policy. Sustainability at Whiskers Vets is a continuous journey – we will keep reviewing, improving, and adopting new measures to reduce our environmental impact while maintaining the high standard of care our clients and patients expect.