Sustainability Strategies for Opticians

Optometrists create a wide variety of waste and use plenty of energy to keep the lights on and medical devices running. Research from the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare found the average carbon footprint of an NHS eye test to be 5.27 kg CO2 – that’s more than two loads of laundry (washing and tumble drying)!

At 69 percent, travel was the biggest contributor to carbon emissions, but energy (14 percent), procurement (11 percent), and waste (5 percent) account for almost a third of emissions. Switching to more sustainable solutions can reduce the carbon footprint of your practice and save you money. Staff and patients all play a part in helping reduce waste and boost eco-efficiencies.

Here, we offer five simple strategies to improve the sustainability of your practice.

Recycling schemes
 

Many pairs of old glasses are made of recyclable materials, but are not accepted by domestic recycling collections or at household waste recycling centers (HWRCs). This is due to the processes required to separate the materials and recycle them. Offering a collection box for patients’ old and broken glasses prevents them from being thrown out with general waste and ending up in landfill sites.

You can set up a program to collect used and broken glasses at your practice. For example, Specsavers has partnered with MYgroup so that patients can drop off old glasses and their cases for recycling. TerraCycle also runs recycling schemes for used contact lenses, blister packs, and foil coverings that you could offer in-store.

Sustainable specs
 

You should stock frames made from sustainable materials, such as bamboo, recycled plastic, and bio-acetate (which can be composted or recycled more easily). The likes of Eco Eyewear, Peep Eyewear, and Bird Eyewear all produce more sustainable and environmentally friendly designs. Sell eco-friendly glasses cases and those that come with minimal packaging too.

Paperless practice
 

Moving in a digital direction can significantly reduce the amount of waste paper your opticians practice produces. Send out email reminders rather than posting appointment invites, move all billing and record keeping online, and switch to e-receipts. It might not seem like big steps, but it soon saves lots of paper.

Email and text message updates, promotions, and appointment reminders can also save paper compared to using flyers and posters. Social media is a great tool for marketing any offers or changes at your opticians.

Improve energy efficiency
 

Optometrist practices rely on lots of lighting, and so switching to LED bulbs can save on energy use. Smart thermostats can also help reduce unnecessary heat and energy consumption when the practice is closed. Low flow taps are a great way to minimize water consumption and waste too.

Opticians should also look at emerging technologies and use energy-efficient equipment, such as autorefractors and tonometers, wherever possible.

Conduct a sustainability audit
 

All opticians are different, so the challenges around waste and sustainability might be unique to your practice. Carrying out a waste audit and sustainability assessment is a great way to highlight any areas specific to your business where you can make improvements. The Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO) has developed a free sustainability self-assessment tool designed for optometrists. Simply answer the questions to measure where your practice is currently. You can return to it in a few months’ time to track your sustainability progress.