Sustainability Policy January 2020

27th January 2020

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Crowshall Sustainability Policy

Crowshall Veterinary Services LLP has always been a business guided by strong principles, with a consistent focus on championing the production of healthy and sustainable food while promoting outstanding animal health and welfare.

We have never shied away from tackling challenges encountered by the veterinary and agricultural sectors, whether it be through our responsible use of antibiotics or our progressive attitude to mental health support for both staff and clients alike; with the ever-growing evidence for imminent climate crisis we intend to act now to ensure the sustainability of our services.

Some of the actions already taken by Crowshall Veterinary Services include:

• Appointment of in-house “sustainability champions” to monitor resource usage and drive forward the sustainability agenda of the practice.
• Reduction in single-use plastic in our post-mortem facilities, as well as in our microbiology and Campylobacter laboratories.
• Measurement of resource usage in order to accurately monitor reductions.
• Significant reduction in paper usage (step 1 in our goal to become completely paperless) and the provision of bins which allow recycling (instead of incineration) of our confidential waste.

As we continue to improve the sustainability of the practice, there are other steps we intend to take as soon as practicable. These include:

• Replacement of all diesel company vehicles with petrol cars capable of achieving efficient mileage per gallon of fuel. As hybrid and electric vehicles become more suitable for rural use (increased driving range and improvements in provision of charging facilities in remote areas), we intend to adapt accordingly, with plans in the pipeline to install vehicle charging stations at the practice.
• Carbon offsetting our CO₂e output through The Gold Standard, a carbon offset scheme promoted by WWF.
• Engaging with wider industry.

In our position as a practice which supplies services to the poultry industry, we are proud of our clients and the sector they work in; poultry production has been shown to be the most sustainable form of terrestrial animal agriculture, and one which provides the consumer with affordable access to healthy protein.

There is always room for improvement, however, and we hope that Crowshall can help to push towards an even more sustainable future, one in which a flourishing rural economy continues to exist for all of us and for generations to come.