Have you ever thought about the impact veterinary services are having on our environment? 

Here at Watkins + Tasker Vets we are very conscious of ours and have been taking active steps to reduce the impact our treatments and services are having on the planet and are striving for a greener, more sustainable future. 

With more than 5,000 veterinary practices in the UK, Watkins + Tasker Vets are just 1 of 72 who are active members of the Investors in the Environment Accreditation Scheme (iiE). A National environmental accreditation scheme designed to help organisations, such as ourselves, to reduce their impact on the environment using an accessible and proven route and guide them through their sustainability journey.

We closely monitor our electricity, gas, water and other fuels and are actively taking steps to reduce our consumption in all these areas. We have many recycling schemes, such as your standard card, paper, glass, plastic and tin, we also have collection boxes at all three locations for blister packs and medicine bottles, which are processed and used to make garden furniture, play equipment and much more! 

We are regularly assessing other materials we use such as anaesthetic gases and its waste product. Switching products where possible, to reusable or more sustainable sources for PPE, paper towels and toilet paper. We even do our best to hang out our laundry on a nice day, such as blankets and towels, or dry it on airers to reduce the use of our tumble dryers where possible. 

We also use SageTech anaesthetic gas equipment/system which unlike standard equipment, captures and processes waste anaesthetic agents preventing them from escaping into the atmosphere thus reducing our carbon footprint and impact on the environment. This also benefits the health of our team who work daily in the theatre to provide the best care whilst your pets are being treated.

All these actions, and more, are with an aim for the practice to reduce our carbon footprint and emissions by at least 2% and are in part as a result from our very own Eco Team. This team comprises of receptionists, admin staff, nurses and vets and we are always working towards new projects and discussing plans for the practice. 

The team have successfully completed community projects which include litter picking days and volunteering our muscles and garden expertise to help on a volunteering day at Goblin Combe, a wonderful Lodge, cottage and yurts surrounded by woodland which is open to scout groups and organisations.

The team are encouraged to think of their impact on the environment when getting to and from work, with car sharing and public transport encouraged, where possible, and with the train line being reinstated in Portishead, this will make it even easier! A member of the team collects stamps and over Christmas and New Year the chocolate and sweet tubs which are collected from the practices and staff own from home. Both projects not only reduce waste, but the tubs are also shredded and the plastic sold to manufacturers, and both schemes benefit charities including the Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund (RWAF) and MacMillian Cancer Support.

As you can well imagine, all our team are animal lovers, and this does not just mean our domesticated pets. Wildlife and the natural world are also a great driving force for making change to look to a greener, more sustainable future. 

We are always keen to hear new ideas and suggestions for our Eco Team to consider, so if you have any recommendations, please do get in touch, we would love to hear from you!

With the development of services on offer for households across the country, such as collection points at supermarkets and pet shops for pet food sachets and bags, the way in which we care for our pets is changing, so we can even improve their individual carbon footprint!

Jennie L – Receptionist