The BSAVA has recently formed a new Sustainability Working Group (SWG) of BSAVA volunteers and staff members, demonstrating its commitment towards environmental sustainability. The initial reason behind setting up the SWG is to explore the feasibility of the BSAVA becoming a carbon neutral organisation.
Although the SWG is newly formed, BSAVA has been committed to environmental sustainability for some time. At a previous BSAVA Congress, various sustainability and community initiatives were introduced, some of which involved the introduction of reusable water bottles made available to delegates to reduce single use plastics. In an attempt to reduce the carbon footprint and increase the use of recyclable materials, lanyards and delegate bags were manufactured from 100% recycled plastic(PET). BSAVA are now working with Carbon Footprint, a consultancy company, specialising in helping organisations become more carbon neutral, to offset the Virtual Congress.
Carl Gorman, Honorary Secretary for the BSAVA and Chair of the SWG said: “I am thrilled to announce that we have chosen two carbon offsetting projects for BSAVA’s Virtual Congress; UK tree planting and community projects.
“Tree planting is a great way to help sequester carbon emissions, provide wildlife habitats and promote biodiversity. Furthermore, both projects help to support the local communities; the community projects include borehole rehabilitation in Uganda, provision of improved cooking stoves in India and a fuel-switching and efficiency project in China.”
Ian Ramsey, President of the BSAVA concluded: “The carbon offsetting projects chosen by the SWG will help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as a result of BSAVA’s Virtual Congress 2021,
“Longer-term, the work of the SWG will ensure that the BSAVA continue to take steps to reduce our carbon dioxide emissions as much as possible, in addition to assisting small animal practices to move towards sustainable ways of working.”
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