One of the UK’s top veterinary eye clinics, which has a branch in Penrith, has received national recognition for its drive to cut its environmental impact.
Linnaeus-owned Veterinary Vision has earned a bronze award from Investors in the Environment (iiE), which runs a countrywide initiative to encourage companies to cut emissions and waste.
The purpose-designed Penrith clinic, which opened in 2017, incorporates multiple features to reduce its carbon footprint, including generation of electricity through 70 solar panels on the roof.
Vet Chris Dixon, an advanced practitioner in veterinary ophthalmology and the practice’s “green champion” said: “We’re very pleased that our commitment to address our environmental impact has been recognised by iiE.
“As part of the process, we created an environmental policy to outline our goals and commitments across the practices and audited our carbon footprint including our consumption of gas, electricity and water and our use of materials and waste streams.
“We encouraged involvement from all members of staff and canvassed opinion on our key objectives. It was critical that we stepped forward as a team to make a real difference.”
The practice has also engaged staff in a week of litter picking events around the practice, in the Lake District, Ullswater and St Bees Beach.
According to iiE auditor April Sotomayor: “Veterinary Vision is demonstrating its organisation’s commitment to minimising its environmental impact and helping to set the standard for the environment.
“They have collected an impressive amount of data. In addition to utilities, Veterinary Vision also monitors isoflurane, general waste, dry mixed recycling, clinical waste, other healthcare waste, company van and staff mileage and paper use.
“Veterinary Vision has implemented actions to reduce waste and improve recycling, including the removal of plastic cups, installation of more and bigger recycling bins in consultation rooms and the purchase of reusable bottles and scrub hats.”
