National Award For Eye Vet's Sustainability Efforts

Linnaeus-owned Eye Vet, in Sutton Weaver, Cheshire, has received a bronze award from Investors in the Environment (iiE), a national accreditation scheme designed to help organisations reduce their impact on the environment.

The accreditation was awarded on the back of a sustained initiative which has seen the practice reduce waste, emissions and costs.

Registered veterinary nurse Gill French is Eye Vet’s sustainability lead and said the whole team had engaged with the process and were enjoying learning new ways to reduce their impact on the environment.

Gill explained: “We’re all so pleased to have earned a bronze award from iiE. The award reflects the team’s commitment to create and implement a new eco-friendly policy to reduce our environmental impact.

“Our changes include moves such as introducing reusable alternatives to commonly-used items like scrub hats and ‘Bair Hugger’ blankets.

“Also, over the past year we have undertaken a vast range of additional projects to enhance the environment and support charities, including joining the British Veterinary Bee Association and organising a charity raffle.

“Everyone here is hugely focused on continuing our good work and we’ll strive to keep introducing positive measures and building on our sustainability efforts.”

The iiE audit of Eye Vet’s work was incredibly positive, including praise for the whole team and highlighting the effort of both Gill and clinical director Iona Mathieson.

It said: “The team at Eye Vet have made an excellent start at improving the organisation’s environmental performance, with the green champion and clinical director actively engaging staff to make positive changes across the practice.

“They have created their first environmental policy, which highlights the practice’s commitment to reduce its environmental impact and is available on the practice website and staff noticeboard, while the team are actively looking at ways to reduce waste across the practice.”

The Investors in the Environment annual audit consists of an assessment of five key areas of an organisation’s EMS. These include:

• Environmental policy
• Resource management and monitoring
• Progress against targets
• Action planning including social/environmental projects
• Communication

Ellie West, environmental sustainability lead at Linnaeus, said she was delighted Eye Vet’s sustainability efforts had been recognised.

She said: “Many congratulations to the team at Eye Vet on their bronze iiE award. I’m so pleased their hard work has been rewarded and look forward hearing more about the sustainability work of this great team.

“At Linnaeus, we focus strongly on quality of care and this translates to becoming a sustainable business and upholding our responsibilities to our clients, associates and communities.

“That’s why I am so excited to be leading our ambitious sustainability agenda, which strives to deliver a better future for everyone. I’m thrilled to see another of our Linnaeus partners recognised for their efforts.”

Eye Vet Referrals is a fully-equipped referral clinic with cutting-edge ophthalmic equipment which enables them to provide gold-standard veterinary care. For more information, visit: https://www.eye-vet.co.uk/.