Sustainability Policy

Environmental Sustainability Policy

  • Organisation: Northwest Referrals
  • Location: 19 Caroline Street, Wigan, WN3 4EL
  • Approved by: James Weston and the Senior Management Team
  • Review: Annually — next review 2 June 2026

James Weston leads our work towards a more sustainable future, supported by Elizabeth Richardson as deputy. Together they make sure the team is educated on and reminded of what we are trying to achieve. James and Libby will raise sustainability at every practice meeting — reception, nurse and vet — so everyone has a platform to bring forward ideas for making the practice more sustainable. If you would rather not wait for the next meeting, speak to either of them at any point or email jamesw@northwestreferrals.co.uk. We will look into your idea within seven days.

1. Policy statement

Northwest Referrals is committed to reducing the environmental impact of our operations while continuing to provide outstanding specialist veterinary care. We recognise that sustainable working practices benefit our patients, clients, employees and the wider community.

Senior Management is fully committed to continually improving the environmental performance of the practice through responsible purchasing, waste reduction, efficient use of resources and ongoing investment in environmentally sustainable technologies.

Every member of the Northwest Referrals team has a responsibility to support this policy and to actively contribute towards reducing the practice's environmental footprint.

2. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to:

  • Minimise the environmental impact of the practice.
  • Reduce unnecessary waste.
  • Encourage responsible use of energy and resources.
  • Promote recycling throughout the practice.
  • Support staff in making environmentally responsible decisions.
  • Continually review and improve environmental performance.

3. Scope

This policy applies to:

  • All employees
  • Veterinary surgeons
  • Registered Veterinary Nurses
  • Student nurses
  • Administrative staff
  • Cleaning contractors
  • Visiting clinicians
  • Contractors working on behalf of Northwest Referrals

4. Senior Management commitment

The Northwest Referrals management team is committed to:

  • Providing leadership in environmental sustainability.
  • Investing in environmentally friendly technologies where practical.
  • Complying with all environmental legislation.
  • Continually improving sustainability performance.
  • Encouraging all employees to participate in sustainable initiatives.
  • Reviewing environmental objectives annually.

Environmental sustainability forms part of the long-term strategic planning of Northwest Referrals.

5. Waste management

Waste produced within the practice is managed responsibly using the waste hierarchy:

  1. Reduce
  2. Reuse
  3. Recycle
  4. Recover
  5. Dispose

Waste streams are clearly separated throughout the practice. These include:

Plastic recycling

Clean plastics are separated from general waste and placed into designated recycling containers for collection. Examples include:

  • Plastic packaging
  • Clean medicine containers, where appropriate
  • Bottles
  • Food containers

Cardboard and paper recycling

Cardboard and paper are collected separately from general waste. Staff are encouraged to flatten cardboard boxes before disposal to reduce collection volumes. Examples include:

  • Delivery boxes
  • Office paper
  • Newspapers
  • Leaflets
  • Packaging materials

General waste

Items that cannot currently be recycled are disposed of using designated general waste bins. Staff are encouraged to minimise this waste stream wherever possible.

Clinical and hazardous waste

Clinical waste, pharmaceutical waste and sharps are managed separately under dedicated waste management procedures and are not included within general recycling.

6. Waste reduction plan

Northwest Referrals aims to reduce waste generation by:

  • Purchasing products with minimal packaging.
  • Choosing reusable products where safe and practical.
  • Reducing unnecessary printing.
  • Encouraging electronic communication and digital records.
  • Reusing packaging internally where appropriate.
  • Purchasing durable equipment designed for long-term use.
  • Reducing single-use plastics wherever suitable alternatives exist.
  • Monitoring purchasing trends to minimise unnecessary stock wastage.
  • Keeping anaesthetic gas use to a minimum through the use of nerve blocks and local anaesthetic. Daily anaesthetic machine checks are posted in the nurses' WhatsApp group to confirm there is no leakage, and general anaesthetic plans are reviewed quarterly at the nurse and vet meetings.
  • Undertaking an annual waste audit to confirm correct waste segregation and identify further improvements.

The practice continually reviews opportunities to reduce waste before considering disposal.

7. Recycling facilities

To support recycling throughout the practice:

  • Clearly labelled recycling bins are located throughout the premises.
  • Separate bins are provided for:
    • Plastic
    • Paper
    • Cardboard
    • General waste
  • Recycling signage is displayed to assist staff.
  • Staff receive guidance on the correct waste streams.
  • Clients are encouraged to return unused medications so they can be disposed of appropriately. A collection box is kept on reception, and medications placed in it are removed immediately for everyone's safety. Clients are asked to return medication while attending an appointment or passing the practice, to avoid a separate trip.

The aim is to maximise recycling rates while reducing contamination between waste categories.

8. Staff training and awareness

Environmental sustainability is everyone's responsibility. Northwest Referrals will:

  • Discuss waste segregation during staff induction.
  • Hold regular team meetings covering waste categories and recycling procedures.
  • Provide refresher training where required.
  • Encourage staff to suggest new sustainability initiatives.
  • Share updates on environmental performance and future projects.

Regular communication ensures staff remain informed and engaged in improving the practice's environmental performance.

9. Energy efficiency

The practice is committed to reducing energy consumption through:

  • Switching off lights when rooms are unoccupied.
  • Turning off unnecessary equipment.
  • Monitoring electricity usage.
  • Purchasing energy-efficient equipment where practical.
  • Maintaining heating and ventilation systems for optimal efficiency.

Senior Management regularly reviews electricity consumption to identify opportunities for improvement.

10. Future environmental projects

Northwest Referrals continues to invest in environmentally sustainable improvements. Current and planned initiatives include:

  • Installation of an electric vehicle charging point for staff and visitors.
  • Development of a solar photovoltaic (PV) installation to reduce grid electricity consumption.
  • Ongoing analysis of electricity usage to identify efficiency improvements.
  • Continued expansion of recycling facilities throughout the practice.
  • Investigation of further carbon reduction opportunities as technology develops.

These initiatives demonstrate the practice's commitment to continual environmental improvement.

11. Sustainable travel

Depending on the case, referring practices are offered the option of taking radiographs at their own premises to minimise patient travel. Those images can be sent to us for examination and the case discussed by phone or WhatsApp to make sure it is managed correctly. In some instances this is not possible, and the patient will need to visit Northwest Referrals.

Where practical, Northwest Referrals encourages:

  • The use of electric vehicles.
  • Car sharing.
  • Efficient journey planning.
  • Remote meetings where appropriate.
  • Reduction of unnecessary travel.

The installation of electric vehicle charging facilities supports the transition towards lower-emission transport.

12. Purchasing

Where practical, purchasing decisions will consider:

  • Recyclable packaging.
  • Environmentally responsible suppliers.
  • Product durability.
  • Reduced packaging.
  • Energy-efficient equipment.
  • Sustainable materials.

Environmental impact is considered alongside quality, safety and value for money.

13. Monitoring and continuous improvement

Environmental performance is reviewed through:

  • Annual policy review.
  • Staff feedback.
  • Waste management observations.
  • Energy consumption monitoring.
  • Progress against sustainability objectives.
  • Review of future environmental investment projects.

Northwest Referrals is committed to continually improving its environmental performance year on year.

14. Responsibilities

Senior Management

Responsible for:

  • Providing leadership.
  • Setting sustainability objectives.
  • Allocating appropriate resources.
  • Reviewing progress annually.

Employees

Responsible for:

  • Correctly segregating waste.
  • Reducing unnecessary waste.
  • Using resources responsibly.
  • Following environmental procedures.
  • Reporting opportunities for improvement.

Environmental sustainability is considered part of everyday working practice.

15. Policy review

This policy is reviewed annually, or sooner if legislation changes or significant improvements to environmental practices are introduced.

Northwest Referrals is committed to creating a culture where environmental sustainability is embedded into everyday clinical and operational practice. Through investment, education and continual improvement, we aim to reduce our environmental impact while maintaining the highest standards of veterinary care.

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