Sustainability

Key Impacts

As a Veterinary Practice and a business, we understand the impact of our practical activities on the environment, both locally and nationally. We, as a company, are eager to minimise these and utilise alternative methods to lower our carbon footprint.

The following is a list of key business activities identified by our company that contribute to our effects on the environment:

•         Use of fossil fuels (Gas and oil)
•         Use of electricity
•         Use of water
•         Waste Production and disposal, both clinical and general
•         Use of Anaesthetic gases
•         Emissions from transportation of clientele and employees
•         Use of Pharmaceuticals (Antimicrobials, Antiparasiticides)
•         Procurement of goods and services
•         Construction of infrastructure (Extensions and new buildings)

Our Actions

As we have identified some of the key areas where our business is contributing to the production of carbon emissions, we at Donaldson’s are actively working towards reducing our footprint.

Sustainability at our Hospital

The Donaldson’s Vets Somerset Road Hospital was custom-built with the goal of keeping carbon emissions at a minimum and to have limited impact on the immediate environment. 

The building itself was constructed with triple-glazed windows, enhanced insulation, solar panels and was fitted with air source heat pumps and heat exchangers. This allows the building to maintain adequate heat while keeping a continuous source of airflow throughout the structure. The heating systems are powered by the energy produced from the on-site solar panels, improving the energy efficiency of these modules. 

The internal structures are fitted with motion sensor low-energy lighting to reduce unnecessary usage.

Construction of infrastructure (Extensions and new buildings)

During the construction of the Somerset Road extension, we prioritised the use of locally sourced and reused materials whenever possible to enhance sustainability. 

We have installed triple-glazed windows. These windows not only improve the building’s aesthetic appeal but also provide superior insulation. Efforts were made to maximise natural lighting in the consultation rooms and walkways with windows at each end of the walkway and skylights within the consultation rooms and waiting area.

Additionally, motion sensor lighting has been strategically installed throughout the walkways, ensuring that energy-efficient illumination activates only when necessary. Low-energy lighting is also utilised in the consultation rooms, significantly reducing electricity consumption. In our commitment to sustainability, we have repurposed doors, ceiling panels, and lighting fixtures wherever feasible, effectively minimising waste. Furthermore, we opted to purchase refurbished computer equipment, balancing the need for reliable and modern technology with a reduced environmental footprint. 

Our Waste Management

At Donaldson’s veterinary branches, we prioritise sustainability in our waste management practices. We actively recycle single-use items whenever feasible by directing them to the appropriate recycling streams. 

Our commitment to sustainability includes the recycling of printer ink and toner cartridges, which we process through our primary suppliers, including Lexmark, Brother, and HP. In addition, we have established a battery recycling program that not only reduces waste sent to landfills but also raises funds for charitable initiatives.

To promote waste reduction, we have implemented digital consent forms and electronic medical records. By digitising these documents, we can load them directly into the patient’s file, significantly minimising paper usage. This transition not only streamlines the documentation process but also enhances accessibility and security of patient information. We have also asked staff to only print when necessary and print double sided, Appointment and prescription reminders are sent via text; this contributes to a more sustainable healthcare environment

Each practice has the facilities to recycle the basics, i.e. paper, cardboard, cans; we now have the facilities to allow for glass and food waste recycling. 

Sterilisation pouches and packets from syringes and needles, a daily waste product, are separated into the paper and plastic aspects; cans and pouches from feeding inpatients are cleaned and recycled in the appropriate areas. Providing an item is not contaminated, it will be recycled in the appropriate bin.

General waste is minimised where appropriate and sorted through the local councils.

Clinical and offensive waste management is used across all practices and are disposed of in the appropriate manner. The majority of Donaldsons, including the hospital, primarily use clinical waste, separated into infectious and contaminated. This ensures the correct disposal of hazardous waste without compromising the safety of the workers. 

Donations for kennel spaces

As with most veterinary practices, Donaldsons uses paper, towels, and blankets to provide suitable kennelling areas and bedding for our patients. To minimise costs and emissions through supply of these items, we regularly ask for donations from the public and disperse them where needed across our branches. 

Single use consumables

Single-use surgical consumables, such as drapes, gowns, and shoe covers, can fill up clinical and general waste. For this reason, Donaldsons aims to use re-usable items where deemed clinically appropriate, without increasing risk to patients. Re-usable drapes are available throughout Donaldsons and are used as much as possible, alongside re-usable gowns, hats and designated theatre shoes to remove the need for disposable shoe covers. All fabric materials are washed separately from non-theatre items and lint rolled, before being re-sterilised for future use. 

Purchased consumable items are periodically bought in bulk, to reduce the amount of regular deliveries needed. Stock levels are controlled carefully at each branch to limit both excessive stock and the need for emergency deliveries.

For multi-use clinical items, these are manually cleaned, chemically cleaned with enzymatic cleaner, then disinfected or sterilised with the appropriate modalities (chemical, autoclave). 

To run our autoclaves in a sustainably efficient manner, each practice has its own water de-ioniser. This allows improved efficiency of the autoclave system, as they have access to a constant supply of de-ionised water, and minimises the need for regular water deliveries. 

Staff Transportation

As Donaldsons has branches spread across a wide area, with the hospital at the centre. The company is able to cover a 12-mile radius from the centre, meaning staff travel from a variety of locations to work at the hospital setting. For this reason, Donaldson’s utilises a yearly survey to appropriately assess how our employees are travelling to and from the facility, looking at travel times and distance, transport of choice, if they are already car sharing and if they are willing to car share. This allows us to get a realistic view of the environmental impact of our employees.

We also encourage Zoom meetings for training events and meetings, and we actively encourage both employees and clients to choose sustainable modes of transport whenever possible. Walking, cycling, car sharing, and the use of public transport are promoted through a range of communication channels, including informational posters displayed throughout Somerset Road Hospital and regular awareness campaigns on our social media platforms and website. By promoting these alternatives to single-occupancy car travel, we aim to reduce our environmental impact while supporting healthier, more sustainable travel choices. 

Laboratory Testing and Transportation

Each Donaldson practice has its own haematology and biochemistry to run in-house laboratory testing when possible or when urgent results are required. The branches are also supplied with microscopes, to allow for standard cytologic evaluation. There is a limitation to what equipment can be kept at a general practice level; however, the basic machines and training allow for quick diagnosis and limit the need for packaging and transporting samples on a regular basis, reducing the use of plastics and carbon emissions.

Anti-Microbial Use

Donaldsons complies with government guidelines on confronting antimicrobial resistance, a policy which aims to reduce the need for unnecessary exposure to antimicrobials and optimise their use. We minimise use of antimicrobials by utilising lab testing, both internal and external. All branches are equipped for basic urinalysis, cytology and blood tests, while the hospital allows for more advanced testing. Broad-spectrum antibiotics are used as a first line, either as a result of basic tests or whilst waiting for results in a case where it is clinically significant. External lab testing can then be considered when there are suspicions of a resistant strain. Culture and sensitivity tests allow us to identify the exact strain of microbial and which antimicrobial will be most effective, limiting the use of ineffective pharmaceuticals. To ensure that our vets are able to follow a standard protocol, guides on antimicrobial use for set common conditions are available to access at all times on our internal community website. Clients are advised to return shortly before finishing the antimicrobial course; this allows staff to assess symptoms and run additional tests to confirm the elimination of microbials from the affected area, and prevent a break in treatment which could otherwise lead to resistance.

Appropriate Disposal of Pharmaceuticals

Alongside minimising the use of unnecessary pharmaceuticals, Donaldsons supports the Animal Medicines Amnesty Campaign and regularly encourages clients to return their unused or expired medications to be appropriately discarded. This is advertised through posters presented throughout the branches, and clients are encouraged to return their unused medications once they have completed a course. Each branch has a drugs returned book to keep track of what medications are being returned, allowing us to keep an accurate log of how effective our involvement in the campaign is.

Communication

In order to standardise our sustainability process across Donaldsons, we have a variety of standard operating procedures (SOPs) available for members of staff to access on the Donaldsons Vets Community Hub, a website designed for easy-to-access documents, guides and other resources. This site allows staff to access information from any computer, eliminating the need for paper copies stored in specific sites in a practice. If a staff member would like to suggest an alteration or discuss a certain document, they would simply email the person responsible for that document.

It is also important that our clients are aware of our policies within the practice whilst also reducing paper use, so when a client is registered they are sent a ‘Welcome pack’ by email detailing certain practice policies. Our website also contains generic information for clients to view whenever needed, including information on our out-of-hours service, overnight patient care, price list, and managing certain conditions.