Environmental Sustainability Policy

About Mount Vets

Mount Vets Ltd is a long-established practice with origins dating back to 1945. We are a large veterinary hospital practice providing knowledgeable, professional, caring and compassionate veterinary services to pet owners in Wellington, Wiveliscombe and the surrounding area.

We aim to support the wellbeing of animals, our clients and the wider community by providing the best and most compassionate veterinary care we can.

Our Commitment to Environmental Sustainability

Mount Vets Ltd acknowledges that our veterinary activities, services and operations have an impact on the environment. We have identified key areas of our business that contribute to our environmental impact and carbon footprint.

Through the implementation of this sustainability policy, we will encourage wide-reaching participation and work to reduce these impacts while upholding the highest standards of animal health, welfare and clinical care for our patients.

Mount Vets Ltd has appointed Eric Chant as its Sustainability Champion.

Key Environmental Impacts and Mitigating Actions

Use of Fossil Fuels

• We only use electricity from 100% renewable sources.
• We monitor our electricity use on a monthly basis.
• We do not use gas, coal or heating oil.

Use of Electricity

• We use low-energy LED lighting throughout our buildings to reduce our energy consumption.
• Our lighting systems are operated by passive infrared sensors to reduce unnecessary use.
• Solar panels are fitted to our Wellington hospital, helping us generate renewable energy.
• We use highly efficient air-conditioning systems operated by timer controls.
• Our buildings have high levels of insulation to reduce the need for heating and cooling.

Waste Generation and Disposal

• We have a clear waste and recycling policy to strictly separate waste streams and minimise the amount of waste sent to landfill.
• Wherever possible, we reduce, reuse and recycle.
• We make sustainable choices when purchasing equipment and consumables.
• We aim to be as paperless as possible. We make extensive use of email, electronic medical and business records, and a practice intranet for sharing information.
• All our X-ray and ultrasound images are stored digitally.
• Our confidential waste is collected securely, shredded and then recycled.
• We advise clients to return unused medications to the practice for safe and appropriate disposal. Pharmaceutical waste containers are available at each reception for this purpose.

Use of Anaesthetic Gases

• We only use low-flow anaesthesia with CO₂ adsorption to minimise the amount of waste anaesthetic gas produced.
• We use local anaesthetic techniques to reduce the required depth of anaesthesia and the amount of gaseous anaesthetic used.
• We do not use nitrous oxide as an anaesthetic.
• When necessary, we can produce some of our oxygen on site, reducing the number of oxygen cylinders that need to be transported to us.

Use of Water

• All toilets have a low-flush option.
• Scrub taps are fitted with infrared sensors, ensuring water only runs when the surgeon’s hands are beneath the tap.
• No sprinklers are used on site. Any drip-irrigation systems are fitted with timer controls.
• We produce reverse osmosis water on site for our dental machines and autoclaves, removing the need to purchase and transport containers of distilled water.
• Staff have access to filtered mains water, helping us avoid the use of bottled water.

Transport of Personnel and Animals

• We minimise work-related travel by preventing unnecessary journeys and encouraging meetings and conferences to be held by video call where appropriate.
• As a veterinary hospital, we care for our inpatients overnight on the premises, so animals do not need to be transported to other locations.

Fleet Vehicle Emissions

We do not operate any fleet vehicles.

Staff and Client Travel

• We encourage staff to consider the environmental impact of their travel choices, including the use of electric or hybrid vehicles.
• We encourage car-sharing, walking and cycling to work.
• Several members of our team have used our Cycle to Work Scheme. We also provide a bicycle shelter and shower facilities for employees who cycle to work.
• Both of our sites are within walking distance of their town centres and can be reached using pavements, footpaths, cycle lanes and public transport.
• We reduce unnecessary client journeys by consolidating appointments where possible, such as completing medication checks during vaccination appointments.
• We offer PetsApp, allowing clients to request advice and share photographs with our team. In some circumstances, this can reduce the need to visit the practice for a post-operative check.

Consumption of Raw Materials

We work to reduce our consumption of raw materials by encouraging the responsible use of medicines, parasiticides and antimicrobials. We also aim to minimise the use of single-use medical plastics.

Good stock control helps us avoid medicine wastage. We endeavour to avoid harsh chemicals, while soaps, detergents and disinfectants are delivered through automatic dosing systems to prevent overconsumption.

Reducing the Demand for Healthcare

Prevention is better than cure. By offering a range of preventative healthcare options, we can help reduce the greenhouse gas emissions associated with providing medical and surgical treatments.

Mount Active, our preventative healthcare plan, includes vaccinations, worming and flea control, as well as discounts on dentistry and neutering. We also offer puppy parties and nurse clinics covering areas such as weight management and diabetes care.

Gardens, Grounds and Biodiversity

• We have planted approximately 350 metres of double-row mixed native hedging on site.
• We have planted more than 80 individual trees, underplanted with native shrubs.
• We have installed bird boxes and planted wildflowers.
• Wildlife recorded on our grounds includes dormice, hedgehogs, frogs, toads, snakes and various birds, including sparrowhawks.

Environmental Suggestions

We encourage all team members to suggest ways in which we can improve our environmental sustainability through our staff suggestion boxes.

Suggestions from clients are also welcome. Please speak to one of our receptionists or email smallanimal@mountvets.com.

This policy is available on the Mount Vets website and our team intranet.

Eric Chant BVMS MRCVS
Sustainability Champion