Veterinary Scene Down Under: Sustainability in animal care clinics

Sustainability in the veterinary profession relates to everything from the responsible use of antimicrobials to reducing the impact of waste, such as through recycling plastic waste in-clinic. Vets for Climate Action launched its Climate Care Program for veterinary practices in 2023, and the initiative has grown through international collaboration, with national veterinary sustainability organizations joining forces under the umbrella of the newly formed World Veterinary Environmental Alliance (WVEA).

Veterinarian Jeremy Watson BVSc (Hons), MANZCVS (SA Surgery), is chair of the Australian Veterinary Environmental Alliance’s Climate Care Program Advisory Committee, and he explained to dvm360 that this alliance has fostered collaboration to share ideas, address barriers, and streamline sustainability in veterinary practice.

“Veterinary sustainability has benefited from recent international collaboration, resulting in the development of simpler and clearer practical pathways for veterinary practice. The Vets for Climate Action Climate Care Program, an online Net Zero and sustainability program specifically designed for the veterinary industry, has just completed significant upgrades, partly through international collaboration. The updates have enhanced the user experience and simplified the process of implementing sustainability in a busy practice environment,” Watson said.

“There is a significant desire in the veterinary profession to be more sustainable, as evidenced by industry surveys. Veterinarians are experiencing firsthand the animal health impacts of increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events accelerated by climate change. As guardians of animal health in the community, veterinary teams are a trusted scientific voice and provide leadership on animal health issues,” Watson continued.

Watson said that, in response to the impacts of a deteriorating climate, many veterinarians want to be more sustainable in their practices but are not sure where to start, particularly amid the pressures of a busy practice environment.

“A critical starting point is to have clarity about what sustainability means in a practice setting. In practice, sustainability is about reducing the impact of waste. Veterinary teams are often concerned about the amount of disposable medical products and packaging waste going to landfill or incineration but are unaware of the much larger amounts of invisible waste in the form of carbon emissions caused by the activities of the practice,” Watson explained.

“The goal of sustainability is to reduce the impact of waste to zero, and in particular, should focus on carbon emissions, which are the biggest waste in veterinary practice. It is carbon emissions that are driving climate change, and this requires an urgent response,” Watson said.

Veterinarians in clinics have the opportunity to contribute to climate action by reducing waste and carbon emissions in practices, while influencing and inspiring clients. “Veterinary teams and their clients have a shared interest in the future of animal health. Up to two-thirds of the population own or care for animals in modern Western economies and are in regular contact with veterinary teams. By leveraging the personal connection with clients to join our sustainability efforts, we have the potential to build widespread support for better climate policies,” said Watson.

“Sustainability is good for the business of veterinary practice. Financial savings from system reviews incorporating new technologies, building client value, and enhancing team purpose are significant benefits for practice management. Long-term success is about keeping the whole team engaged and motivated to take ownership of the process,” Watson continued.

Recent upgrades to the Climate Care Program incorporate recognition of the importance of keeping the whole veterinary team engaged to continue delivering waste reductions, while enabling participants to implement easily measurable annual targets, and design dashboards and engaging competitions. “In Australia, October is being promoted as ZerOctober, a month to celebrate sustainability in practice. The long-term vision is to promote this concept worldwide and leverage the benefits of international collaboration,” Watson shared.

“Sustainability requires a long-term approach over many years. Designating a sustainability month every year enables practices to maintain momentum, review progress, set goals, and collaborate within the profession. It’s a significant opportunity for the veterinary team to implement their creative skills and celebrate with clients to further enhance value to the practice,” Watson said.

To learn more about the Climate Care Program, visit: https://www.vfca.org.au/climatecare

New membership model launched

After an extended period of member consultation and review, the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) has launched a new, all-inclusive membership model to provide simpler, more flexible, more affordable, and more inclusive membership options while delivering greater value for veterinarians, veterinary teams, and practice groups. Three new membership categories have been created—veterinarian, allied professional, and student—with 4 new tiers: all access, flexi, connected, and student. New group membership packages are also available for veterinary teams and clinics.

In a statement, the AVA said the new membership structure ensures value is more accessible, more transparent, and better aligned with how veterinary professionals work today. “All memberships include free access to the AVA's Special Interest Groups, and based on feedback from the profession, the new model makes it simpler for veterinary professionals to stay connected and strengthen a sense of belonging, which sits at the heart of AVA,” the organization wrote.

For more information on the new membership options, visit: https://www.ava.com.au/about-us/2026-membership-model/