Sustainability Policy

Environmental/Sustainability Policy

One 44 Dental are committed to environmental sustainability and will actively reduce our impact on the environment. Furthermore, we will actively monitor our impact on the environment and continually improve our performance. 

The One 44 Team work hard to minimise their environmental footprint and try to inspire others to do so.

Responsibility 

The practice manager has been appointed Sustainability Champion and is responsible for ensuring implementation of this environmental policy. All team members, however, have a responsibility to ensure that the aims of this policy are met. 

Policy aims

We will:

• Comply with all relevant regulatory requirements
• Incorporate sustainability (environmental, social and economic) goals into our business strategy
• Continually monitor & reduce our environmental impact
• Increase team awareness about sustainability

Travel

We will: 

1. Reduce the need for patients to travel unnecessarily.
2. Promote the use of online CPD.
3. Accommodate the needs of those cycling to the practice.
4. Staff car share or walk to and from work

 Energy

We will:

1. Reduce the amount of energy we consume as far as reasonably practical.
2. Switch off electrical equipment when not in use.
3. Factor the energy consumption and efficiency of new products before procurement.

4. Set between 16 and 19 degrees.
5. Thermostats, timers and radiator valves are free from obstruction and accessible.
6. Outside normal working hours, heating is turned off. During normal working hours, the heat is reduced in areas that do not require heating.
7. When the heating is on, the windows and outside doors are kept closed. If the environment becomes too warm, the heating is turned down; we avoid opening windows when the heating is on.
8. Cooling and heating systems are not operated at the same time; if it is too warm, the heating is turned down.
9. Use of air-conditioning is minimised; mechanical devices (for example, fans) and natural ventilation are preferred.
10. The temperature of hot water is above 55 degrees.

We have reduced the temperature of stored water. [However, we must keep the temperature above 60C to prevent Legionnaire’s disease.]

We regularly have the boiler serviced and the system is checked for any leaks.

We have draught-proofed/ insulated windows, doors, lofts, boilers and pipes.

Lighting

1. We switch off lights when they are not needed.
2. We have labelled light switches to clearly identify the lights they control.
3. We clean light fittings regularly to increase the brightness of the lighting.
4. We maximise natural lighting by ensuring windows are clean and window ledges are not cluttered.
5. We have installed energy efficient lighting.

Water efficiency tips

1. We regularly check the water meter as any sudden or unexplained increase in water use can indicate a leak.
2. We repair any dripping taps as soon as possible.
3. When purchasing new equipment, we aim to choose the most water-efficient option.

Reduce, Re-use & Recycle

We will:

1. Minimise the use of paper.
2. Seek to buy recycled and recyclable paper products.
3. Reuse and recycle paper where possible.
4. Recycle all packaging where appropriate.

5. Wherever possible we segregate any general municipal waste that can be recycled, eg paper/magazines / cardboard / cans / glass.
6. Other dental practice waste is segregated as appropriate and disposed of in line with current Environment Agency requirements.

Cleaning

We will:

1. Use cleaning materials that are as environmentally friendly as possible.

Procurement

We will: 

1. Give preference to suppliers that generate positive social and environmental outcomes.
2. Give preference to products that reduce their impacts on society and the environment throughout their full life cycle.

Promote awareness and a collaborative culture

We will:

1. Incorporate environmental factors into business decisions.
2. Involve the whole team in implementing this policy.
3. Increase awareness of sustainability with team training.
4. Allow time for environmental concerns to be discussed at practice meetings.

Aimee Briscoe

Practice Manager

15/05/23