Environmental Sustainability at Garston Veterinary Group
All businesses impact the environment in many ways, and the veterinary sector is no exception. Garston Veterinary Group (GVG) is a keen advocate for sustainability within the profession, recognising the potential for significant environmental harm to be inflicted by our activities. We are fully committed to the continual improvement of our environmental performance to reduce our carbon footprint and ensure a positive impact on the environment long-term.
We are proud to announce we have been awarded iiE Green Level Accreditation
We are proud to have achieved Green Level Accreditation for 2025, reflecting the continued strength and progress of our sustainability journey. Following a period of significant transition after achieving Silver Level Accreditation in 2023, the practice has focused on embedding sustainability more deeply across all areas of operation.
Our Environmental Management System (EMS) has continued to grow and evolve, with key improvements including detailed waste audits and a full review of our waste management processes. Alongside this, sustainability is now firmly embedded in our day‑to‑day culture through ongoing staff engagement and the introduction of new incentives to support greener travel choices.
Achieving Green Accreditation for 2025 recognises not only our commitment to maintaining high environmental standards, but also the meaningful progress we have made in strengthening our environmental performance year on year.
Led by our ‘Garston Go Green’ environmental group, and with the support of all our GVG Associates, our team are dedicated to achieving the highest possible levels of environmental sustainability without compromising patient care and treatment. Having been awarded sustainability accolades already, both within and outside of the veterinary industry, GVG are proud to be leaders in the field.
To view our Environmental Policy, click here.
Sustainability at Garston
Over the last 5 years our Green Team have spearheaded several environmental initiatives across the business including:
- Converting all lighting to LED energy-saving bulbs
- Creating new waste streams and increasing our recycling efforts
- Reducing single-use items e.g. by replacing single-use theatre hats with washable fabric hats, swapping from disposable to reusable washable surface wipes
- Reducing business travel by encouraging online CPD events and meetings
- Creating and implementing a protocol for efficient use of the practice heating and air conditioning systems
- Promoting the use of environmentally friendly products such as bamboo toothbrushes and paper bags for waiting room purchases
- Eliminating the use of nitrous oxide (an inhalational pain killer and potent greenhouse gas) by using a wider range of injectable pain killers during anaesthetics instead.
- Implementing ‘low flow’ anaesthetic protocols to reduce the use of isoflurane (a gaseous anaesthetic agent and potent greenhouse gas)
- Reducing unnecessary printing
The commitments made by our team have seen significant results, including:
- A reduction in HGV deliveries of bottled gas
- A reduction in isoflurane usage
- A reduction in energy usage
- A reduction in paper consumption
- A decrease in fuel consumption
- An increase in recycling
- Saving many surgical hats from going to landfill
Awards
- Accredited iiE Green 2025 Award
- Accredited iiE Green 2024 Award
- ‘Green Veterinary Practice of the Year 2023', The Webinar Vet’s Virtual Congress
- ‘Best Carbon Reduction’ (IIE) won 2023
- ‘Sustainability Influencer’ (IIE) runner up 2023
A Sustainable Future
At Garston we are committed to the process of continual improvement and are constantly embarking on new projects and initiatives with the aim of reducing our environmental impact.
We would love to hear your feedback on our sustainability efforts so far and are always keen to hear any ideas or suggestions.
