VETPARTNERS, along with one of our practices and pet crematoria, have been shortlisted for prestigious sustainability awards.
VetPartners, which owns some of the most respected and trusted veterinary practices and animal healthcare businesses across the UK and Europe, has been shortlisted for the Best Social Impact award at the Investors in the Environment (iiE) awards.
One of our practices, St Peter’s Vets in Petersfield, is in the running for two awards – Best Carbon Reduction and Sustainability Influencer – while Pet Cremation Services North East in East Boldon, near Sunderland, has been shortlisted as Best Newcomer.
The iiE awards celebrate the success of businesses who are part of its national sustainability accreditation scheme designed to help organisations reduce their impact on the environment.
The winners will be announced on Thursday 20th November at a ceremony at Kingsgate Conference Centre in Peterborough.
VetPartners Head of ESG Hannah James said: VetPartners Group Head of ESG Hannah James said: “I’m thrilled that VetPartners businesses are being recognised for their sustainability efforts. Alongside their busy day jobs, the teams at St Peter’s and PCS have channelled their passion and ingenuity into some great results.
“It’s also great to see VetPartners nominated for social impact. Alongside the continuing success of our donation matching scheme and annual Month of Movement, our new overseas volunteering grant scheme is enabling more vets and nurses to lend their skills to charities where they’re desperately needed.”
St Peter’s Vets vet Ella Townsend, left, who oversees the practice’s environmental work, said: “We’re so proud to have been shortlisted for the Best Carbon Reduction and Sustainability Influencer awards, and it’s amazing to be recognised for all the hard work we’ve put in to try make our practice more sustainable. At St Peter’s we’re passionate about treating the animals in our care to the best of our ability whilst also limiting our impact on the environment.
“Achieving Green accreditation with Investors in the Environment this year was a huge achievement and being shortlisted for these awards tops off a great year.”
PCS Managing Director Jo Moore said: “We are absolutely over the moon to be shortlisted for the iiE Best Newcomer Award. It is a testament to site manager Mark Dorner and the team’s hard work, passion, and unwavering commitment to help make our service more sustainable. Seeing the team achieve the iiE silver accreditation made us incredibly proud and even more excited for what’s ahead.”
Awards
Best Social Impact – VetPartners
VetPartners has raised more than £1million for charity and worthy causes over the last five years, with colleagues’ fundraising efforts matched either fully or partially by the business. Through World Land Trust, it has helped to purchase and protect 1064 acres of wildlife habitat. VetPartners also introduced an annual paid volunteering day for colleagues and offers grants to vets and veterinary nurses to fund volunteering with overseas charities needing clinical support.
Best Newcomer – PCS North East
PCS achieved iiE silver accreditation by introducing environmentally friendly measures. Through changing shift patterns, they managed to save 15 hours of energy usage per week, resulting in a 23% reduction in gas use since their baseline year. Other highlights include a substantial reduction in resource use, resulting in a decrease in CO2 emissions, implementing a detailed waste management plan, and reducing mileage with pre-planned routes. They also created a new flower garden with greenery and a bee hotel to support biodiversity.
Best Carbon Reduction – St Peter’s Vets
St Peter’s Vets reduced CO2 emissions by 5.05 tonnes since last year which is an 8.11% absolute reduction on their annual carbon footprint. By altering shift patterns, grouping mobile vet visits and thoughtful route planning, they have reduced travel emissions, and ‘greener anaesthesia’ training has helped to reduce their use of anaesthetic gases. Other energy saving measures include installing radiator reflectors, lagging on hot water pipes and responsible thermostat control.
Sustainability Influencer – St Peter’s Vets
Through social media and reception displays, St Peter’s Vets have been inspiring others to be more sustainable, encouraged pet owners to recycle empty medication packaging and connected with their local climate action network. In addition to their iiE award, they won a Green Business community award.
- For VetPartners media enquiries, please contact Amanda Little, PR and Communications Director, at [email protected] or 07970 198492