Christine’s aim has been to create a dental practice which is set up, not only to reduce carbon emissions but to provide a healthier environment for the patients and prove cost effective. Our dental practice can provide validation that healthcare practices despite the complexities of infection control can take crucial measures that reduce waste and energy use. We are now a member of Green Impact which is a United Nations award-winning programme designed to support environmentally and socially sustainable practice. #GreenImpact
An eco friendly practice meets the needs of our hundreds of patients and proves cost effective. Our eco-friendly dental surgery increases the health of our patients, our community, our planet, and of course us.
We opened Christine Osborne Dental Practice with the determination that we can create a Dental Practice that has a low carbon footprint.
The amount of energy consumed and waste generated through Dentistry is quite alarming. Hazardous materials are used, radiation is dispersed, water resources are exhausted, and considerable amounts of energy are consumed using the numerous machines, equipment and lightings. With increasing pressures on our environment we felt that the opportunity to create a new practice building in which we could focus on a Greener approach to dentistry could not be missed.
We….
- Now buy electrical equipment that is energy efficient. We also ask companies to send materials to us in the least packaging possible.
- Use FSC-certified paper products ensuring that the forest products that we use are not contributing to global forest destruction.
- Have an efficient recycling program in place and have installed a clean and dry waste bin within the office and the reception area.
- Eco-friendly contractors were employed to install cabinets and clear away waste materials ethically.
- Use LED or energy efficient light bulbs and have installed motion sensors for the lights in the practise and the hand wash to reduce the amount of water wasted.
- Switch off all appliances at the end of the day.
- Currently investigating water harvesting techniques, as well as simple technology that can improve our plumbing waste.
- No longer use paper towels and antibacterial sprays as a surface disinfection method, as this was resulting in an excessive amount of waste. We use microfiber cloths instead saving approx.. 45 sheets of towel roll and 120 pumps of chemicals per day.
- Abolished the use of amalgam in our practice. Amalgam is used in fillings and contains mercury. Mercury from dental practices often ends up in the sewage networks, where it can be converted into a toxic substance known as methylmercury. This can be passed onto humans when they eat fish or shellfish, which have been exposed to the substance.
- Use biodegradable plastics where possible.
- Reuse lab post packaging made from biodegradable materials.
- Have a contract with Medisort, who dispose of our hazardous waste by sterilising it and using it to generate electricity, rather than it contributing to landfill.
Clinical hygiene of course is at the forefront of our minds at the surgery, but new technologies have enabled us to take greater greener measures than previously possible.
