Green Team Vet

As a health-centred sector, and key player in the One Health Agenda, veterinary professionals recognise the interconnections between human, animal and environmental health and wellbeing.  

We know that climate change and environmental degradation will have a significant negative impact on the health and wellbeing of those working in the veterinary sector, our clients and communities, and the animals under our care.  

Considering the veterinary sector’s role in sustainability is essential, as our work and the animals under our care can contribute to the issue, eg through greenhouse gas emissions. The influence of the sector also extends beyond the activities of individual veterinary professionals and businesses, being closely involved with many other sectors, organisations and people who have a direct impact on the environment, including animal owners, the farming community, government, industry, as well as personal and professional communities.  

Additionally, sustainability initiatives can benefit animal welfare, but care must be taken to ensure they do not inadvertently compromise it, so it is vital that everyone working in the veterinary sector understands how to use their unique mix of knowledge and experience to positively influence those they interact with.

As our survey results show, veterinary professionals understand the importance of, and care about environmentally sustainability. Vets work to champion and safeguard animal health and welfare and undertake varied roles across a wide range of animal species. Their expertise enables them to gain a unique insight into the damaging effects that our changing planet is having on animals. As trusted advisers, they are also well placed to engage in actions to reduce the environmental impact of the profession, wider industry, and the communities they serve. 

There are strong ethical, business, and one health reasons why the veterinary sector must take action, and many veterinary professionals have already made significant progress on improving their environmental footprint, but there is more work to do. Here are our top ten reasons everyone in the veterinary sector should take action: 

• to prevent worst impacts of climate change on veterinary teams and animals  
• to fulfil code of conduct requirements to consider the impact of their actions on the environment 
• to mitigate the emissions caused by veterinary work and the animals under our care  
• to utilise their unique skills and opportunities which can help to tackle the issue   
• to positively use their influence over other people and sectors that have a direct impact 
• to brings cost savings and ensures their businesses are resilient  
• to positive impact team wellbeing, morale and productivity  
• to improve team and client recruitment and retention  
• to maintain our roles as trusted advocates for animal welfare  
• to continue providing outstanding veterinary care into the future 

There are many useful resources available to help you on your sustainability journey. Here are some that we have developed, and links to others we think you will find useful: 

• FAQ videos (see above)

• Webinars (see next dropdown)

• The Net Zero report 

• The 'Greener Veterinary Practice Checklist' 

• BVA One Health in Action Report 

• BVA position on UK Sustainable Animal Agriculture 

• BVA position on UK Sustainable Finfish Aquaculture 

• BVA Sustainability in the vet profession action plan 

• BVA Choose Assured infographic 

• Vet Sustain provides a wealth of useful sustainability resources and courses for veterinary professionals  

In 2022 we teamed up with Vet Sustain and VDS Training to bring you a series of free webinars based on the topics covered in the Greener Veterinary Practice Checklist.

Each month, we focused on a different topic around sustainability, discussing the key points, and ideas for how to embed the key principles into your workplace. 

• Empowering the team
  • Webinar recording
  • Webinar summary
• Using water and energy responsibly
  • Webinar recording
  • Webinar summary
• Sustainable surgery and use of consumables
  • Webinar recording
  • Webinar summary
• Using medicines responsibly
  • Webinar recording
  • Webinar summary
• Reducing your carbon footprint
  • Webinar recording 
  • Webinar summary
• Helping others make greener choices 
  • Webinar recording

BVA has been showing leadership by repeatedly achieving Investors in the Environment (IIE)’s top “Green accreditation”, awarded for our continued commitment to improving our sustainability performance. Read our environmental policy and find out more about our own sustainability efforts here. 

As well as developing resources and supporting #GreenTeamVet initiatives across the profession, we ensure sustainability is considered when we develop a new policies, such as the BVA policy position on diet choice for cats and dogs. It is also a fixed agenda item for every meeting with our specialist divisions, to make sure it stays at the forefront of all our policy conversations.  

• Read the BVA and Vet Sustain Net Zero report 

• Use and share the Greener Practice Checklist  

• Encourage colleagues, friends and clients to follow our ‘Less and Better’ recommendations and to #ChooseAssured when buying meat and dairy products 

• Get advice on how to make your practice more bee friendly 

• Sign up for the Veterinary Carbon Calculator to help work out your practice’s carbon footprint. BVA members get 33% off the purchase price. Use our discount code in our member portal.