Quick hacks for vet practices with links to follow making it super easy to action or share with your team.
I’ll be adding to this list!
Here goes…
Print mindfully
Recycle your ink cartridges and save the birds! Help the RSPB by recycling your empty inkjet printer cartridges here
Ask clients if they need a print out, offer to email instead. Set all your printers to double sided printing (image)
Switch your search engine to Ecosia
Ecosia uses its profits to plant trees, where nature and people need them most. Set Ecosia as the home page on all your practice computers – the more people that use Ecosia the more trees they can plant.
Recycle your postage stamps
Rabbit Welfare Association Fund (RWAF) can use your postage stamps for fundraising – send them to RWAF Stamps, Enigma House, Culmhead Business Park, Taunton, Somerset, TA3 7DY. They can also recycle broken mobile phones, electronic gadgets, old or broken jewellery and foreign currency – for details click here.
Go digital with Vet Times
Especially in mutli-vet practices, its common to end up with several copies of the same issue of Vet Times. Did you know you can amend your subscription via your online account – switch to a daily or weekly digital e-newsletter to stay up to date or download the Vet Times app and/or Vet Times Jobs.
Donate old vet text books
Try Vet Books for Africa or for those in the USA try the AVMA.
Recycle batteries
Find out your nearest recycling location for batteries via a postcode search here. Many supermarkets have them in store – remember to take them along next time you pop out on your lunch break!
Terracycle
A whole host of items can be recycled via Terracycle, including crisp packets, air fresheners, soap bottles, pens, and pet food packets. You can apply to become a drop-off location too, encouraging clients to visit the practice.
Toilet paper that gives back
‘Who Gives a Crap’ toilet paper gets delivered right to your doorstep in plastic free packaging, and they donate 50% of their profits to help building toilets in third world countries. You can even set up a subscription so you’ll never be without! Use this link.
Green energy
Switching to a greener energy supplier can have a huge impact on the environment. I’ve switched to Pure Planet – use this link for a £50 reward once you’ve switched (rewards include ASOS, Amazon or charity donation). It takes less than 2 minutes!
Eco bricks
Discover the world of Ecobricks – essentially creating a reusable building block by packing clean and dry plastic into a plastic bottle to a set density. Clean used plastic autoclave packets, chocolate bar wrappers, packaging material, all squished into a bottle. Head to the Start Up section on the website to find your local drop off point.
Bee Friendly Practice Scheme
Bee populations are declining significantly around the world. This is a serious problem as bees help to carry out the pollination that is so vital in producing many of the foods we eat every day. Become a Bee Friendly Practice – head to the British Bee Vets website to receive your Bee Friendly Practice Pack or join the British Bee Veterinary Society.
Eco friendly reusable scrub hats
Ditch the disposable and head to All Scrubbed Up Scrub Hats for a bespoke reusable scrub hat, available in a huge variety of fun and funky designs.
Donate unused or expired supplies and medication
Awesome initiatives such as Vet MedAid and USA based Project V.E.T.S are dedicated to improving global animal welfare whilst conserving valuable resources that would end up in landfill.
Or post on the Vet Volunteering Facebook page for local or specific charities that you’d like to support. From first hand experience volunteering with WeCare Worldwide in Sri Lanka I know how vital and useful these donations are.
If your practice are unable to fund the postage costs involved then why not have a collection box in the staff room or waiting room?
Make the most of technology
Rather than ordering multiple copies of NOAH Compendium – download the super handy free app! Digital versions of the BSAVA Small Animal Formularies are available too.
What do you do in your practice? Share your ideas!