The climate emergency is again in focus as world leaders have been gathering for the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference, more commonly referred to as COP27. There is no doubt that major changes need to be made on national levels, but individuals and businesses are also stepping up to do their part and make a difference. Making your clinic more sustainable is a process that will show your patients and potential patients that you’re taking responsibility for your impact on the planet, but can also help promote efficiency and save money too.
What does sustainability mean?
Sustainability is a word that has become more widely used in recent years, but what does it mean in the context of your clinic? Broadly speaking, sustainability refers to the aim for humans to safely co-exist on the planet indefinitely. There are, of course, many definitions of the concept, but in terms of business sustainability, the core principles focus on the economic, environmental, and social impact of a company’s activities.
More than simply thinking about the environment, sustainability is about ensuring your business is sufficiently resilient to prosper in the long term, whilst taking responsibility for its impact. By taking these elements into consideration and taking action to balance your clinic’s impact, you can both help your business to thrive as well as remain socially conscious.
Why should your clinic try to be more sustainable?
Public consciousness is increasingly focussed and educated on matters of sustainability, and consumers are becoming more likely to choose businesses who are seen to consider their environmental impact and take steps to mitigate any negatives.
Indeed, the value of the ‘green pound’ has risen by over 90% since records began in 1999 as more consumers opt to ‘go green’, with the UK’s annual spend on sustainable and ethical products predicted to reach £122bn. Making your clinic more sustainable and offering transparency to your patients and potential patients could help improve your reputation and build trust, as well as making your clinic attractive to environmentally and socially conscious consumers.
Sustainability and positive environmental practices have the reputation of adding expense and inconvenience, but in reality, there are efficiencies and savings to be made. By employing creative strategies to reduce waste and mitigate your clinic’s environmental impact, you can reduce costs and utilise saved time to grow your business. Displaying a strong ethical commitment will also help you to attract and retain the best staff, and also keep ahead of legislation which is frequently updated to meet environmental targets.
How can your clinic become more sustainable?
Many of the steps you can take to make your clinic more sustainable will be much the same as those we already carry out at home, such as recycling and choosing renewable energy. When responsible for premises, or even multiple sites, and a team of staff, as well as procurement procedures and waste management policies, there is undoubtedly a greater degree of complexity to sustainability management. The list which follows is by no means exhaustive, but these ideas are a good place to start.
Utilities
Most clinics will be highly reliant on energy and water, and with energy prices soaring and water reserves low, there are more reasons than ever to be more mindful about your usage. Small changes such as switching to energy-efficient LED light bulbs, ensuring appliances are turned off when not in use, and turning down the thermostat will all add up in the long term, and save money as well as reducing your environmental impact.
Being mindful of water usage is also vital, and there are products on the market to help, such as tap aerators, water-efficient shower heads, and toilet cistern inserts. If possible, making insulation improvements to your windows, walls and roof, though expensive in the short term, will provide a long term saving, as will investing in solar panels or a wind turbine (if space allows).
Communications
Going paperless is perhaps the first thing to consider, and is a relatively simple process when supported by e-clinic’s software, offering a multitude of benefits in addition to simply saving the use of paper. Ink and toner is expensive and has a huge environmental impact, both in its production and use, and electricity also adds to the impact of the printing process. And whilst availability of recycled paper products has increased, as well as provision for recycling paper once it’s used, the process is still inherently wasteful and can largely be avoided.
SMS and email marketing is increasingly popular and successful, with consumers spending more time online than ever.
Procurement
There are some supplies that it’s simply not possible to give up in a busy clinic, but it is often possible to find more sustainable options. Start by seeking out biodegradable or recyclable versions of your consumables, and consider switching to natural fabrics when it’s time to replace your uniforms.
Encourage your team to recycle everything that is recyclable, and consider schemes such as TerraCycle, which allows you to collect more specific items. It’s also important to think about the products you use, the ingredients in them and how they’re sourced. Some brands are more committed to sustainability than others, so check their credentials on a regular basis to ensure the ones you use reflect your values.
Sustainability is about taking responsibility for all of your business impacts and doing your best to mitigate the negative ones. Whether you’re a small clinic or a multi-site hospital, there is a need for all businesses to be more sustainable, ethical and socially conscious. The process doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive, and it’s something that you can improve on an ongoing basis to boost your reputation and profitability too. By getting ahead of the curve now, you can help give your business a competitive edge, as well as improving your social and environmental responsibility.
