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Partnering with Industry to support Sustainable Dentistry and reduce our footprint
Whole Of Practice Stream (On Demand)
Session Description
Partnering with Industry to support Sustainable Dentistry and reduce our footprint
The FDI World Dental Federation has said that:
“Dentistry as a profession should integrate sustainable development goals into daily
practice and support a shift to a green economy in the pursuit of healthy lives and wellbeing
for all through all stages of life.”
In recent years the focus on Sustainability and understanding the impact our carbon footprint has on our environment has been increasing. Governments have made new legislation and organisations have made significant public commitments and signed bills such as the 1.5o business ambition. We are all responsible for the footprint that we leave behind today and for our children in the future.
Healthcare without Harm (2019) found that if the healthcare sector were a country, it would be the fifth largest polluter on Earth. Focusing on the dental sector specifically research by Duane et al. (2019) reviewed the annual carbon footprint of dental services in England in 2013/14. The breakdown showed that over 64% of emissions are related to patient and staff travel and 19% from Procurement.
Focusing on emissions associated with Procurement, highlighted below are two environmental impact areas:
• Manufacture: The input of raw materials and energy and the release of pollutants to air, land, and water as well as the volume of single use items.
• Distribution: The packaging used in the distribution of these products to the practice and the emissions created through its transportation.
The emissions within a practice from electricity, water and waste can also be impacted by the products used within a practice, two areas highlighted below:
• Use: This includes the individual usage of products and the consumption of resources.
• Wastage: End-of-life options within the circular economy and volume of expired or unused stock.
By partnering together, we can both make a significant difference to support Sustainable Dentistry
Learning Objectives
•Creating awareness of current practices and how they are impacting our environment
•Understanding very practical ways of how we can reduce our footprint and provide more sustainable dentistry.
•Ways we can measure the success of our sustainable initiatives
Michael Fahey
The FDI World Dental Federation has said that:
“Dentistry as a profession should integrate sustainable development goals into daily
practice and support a shift to a green economy in the pursuit of healthy lives and wellbeing
for all through all stages of life.”
In recent years the focus on Sustainability and understanding the impact our carbon footprint has on our environment has been increasing. Governments have made new legislation and organisations have made significant public commitments and signed bills such as the 1.5o business ambition. We are all responsible for the footprint that we leave behind today and for our children in the future.
Healthcare without Harm (2019) found that if the healthcare sector were a country, it would be the fifth largest polluter on Earth. Focusing on the dental sector specifically research by Duane et al. (2019) reviewed the annual carbon footprint of dental services in England in 2013/14. The breakdown showed that over 64% of emissions are related to patient and staff travel and 19% from Procurement.
Focusing on emissions associated with Procurement, highlighted below are two environmental impact areas:
• Manufacture: The input of raw materials and energy and the release of pollutants to air, land, and water as well as the volume of single use items.
• Distribution: The packaging used in the distribution of these products to the practice and the emissions created through its transportation.
The emissions within a practice from electricity, water and waste can also be impacted by the products used within a practice, two areas highlighted below:
• Use: This includes the individual usage of products and the consumption of resources.
• Wastage: End-of-life options within the circular economy and volume of expired or unused stock.
By partnering together, we can both make a significant difference to support Sustainable Dentistry
Learning Objectives
•Creating awareness of current practices and how they are impacting our environment
•Understanding very practical ways of how we can reduce our footprint and provide more sustainable dentistry.
•Ways we can measure the success of our sustainable initiatives
Michael Fahey